- Mr. Peter Osuagwu is a fish farmer, and his wife serves as a traditional birth attendant in their community.
- The family’s spokesperson, Nze Osuagwu, and their lawyer, Mr Nnamdi Alokalam, believe the couple’s detention is due to “power play” and “intrigues” orchestrated by a former police officer in their community
The Osuagwu family from Obollo in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State, is urging the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and secure the release of their son, Mr. Peter Osuagwu, and his wife, Mrs. Franca Osuagwu. The couple has been held by the Anambra State Police Command since May 30, 2023.
According to the family, Mr. Peter Osuagwu is a fish farmer residing in Ossomala, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, while his wife, Mrs. Franca Osuagwu, serves as a traditional birth attendant in the community. However, they are being accused of being members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Nze Osuagwu, the family’s spokesperson, and their lawyer, Mr. Nnamdi Alokalam, refuted the allegations, asserting that both husband and wife have no affiliation with IPOB. Instead, they claim that the couple’s detention is a result of “power play” and “intrigues” orchestrated by a former police officer (name withheld) in the community.
The family narrated their ordeal to journalists in Onitsha on Thursday, appealing for justice and the immediate release of their innocent loved ones.
Osuagwu said, “Our son, Peter and his wife have been living in Ossomala for over 20 years without any problem with anybody, until sometime around April 2020, when his daughter was allegedly abducted and raped by one Chisom Nwadialo, a nephew to one ex-police officer in the community.
“The ex-police officer tried unsuccessfully to prevent the arrest and prosecution of Nwadialo in court, but Peter and his wife insisted that the suspect should be arrested and prosecuted in court. Although the matter is pending at the Atani High Court.
“Not happy with Peter’s insistence to pursue the case of his daughter’s abduction and rape, the ex-police officer, connived with the police and arrested both husband and his wife in Ossanala, Anambra State, on May 30, 2023, labelled them IPOB members and took them to unknown location till date.
“After their arrest over alleged membership of IPOB, some hoodlums in Ossomala were mobilised by the ex-police officer to burn their house after Peter and his wife were taken away by the police.
“Since May 30, 2023, they were arrested till date, nobody from the Osuagwu family or relations knows their whereabouts. We have searched the whole police stations and formations in the state; we have gone to the DSS, and Navy, (but) they claimed ignorance of the whereabouts of the couple.
“We, therefore, appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to prevail on the Anambra State Police Command to release our son, Mr. Peter Osuagwu and his wife, Mrs Franca Osuagwu, who have been detained by the command and remained incommunicado since May 30, 2023.
“We want to tell the world that our family does not get involved in IPOB activities. We are a hardworking family. Peter has been a very hardworking man, very progressive and respectful to people, and decent in everything he does.
“He has legitimate businesses and means of income. He is never a troublemaker and has never fought with anybody in Ossomala or other nearby communities where he does his fish pond business. Peter is popular in that community and participates in community activities.
“The question in the mouth of everybody that knows Peter is how come all of a sudden since 2020 when he had issues with the ex-police officer’s family over the abduction and rape of his daughter and his refusal to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet, he has turned to a criminal and IPOB commander.
“Peter is not a member of IPOB, let alone being their commander in Ogbaru, and does not have any relationship whatsoever with IPOB.
“Peter and his wife have the right of access to their lawyers and doctors, we learnt that they sustained serious injuries during the course of their arrest and ordeals in the hands of the police, they therefore need the attention of their doctors. And if the police have any case against them, they should be charged in court not keeping them incommunicado.
“We are therefore appealing to the IGP to ensure that Peter and his wife are released unhurt. And if they committed any offence, they should be charged to court to answer any case against them.”
However, when contacted on reactions to the development, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, simply said, “I am not aware of the incident”, adding that he would check the records and get back.