Ebuka Obi: Imo community youths condemn arrest of monarch, harassment

Mbaishii Youths Association Condemns Alleged Police Brutality Amid Land Dispute

The Mbaishii Youths Association (MYA) has condemned what it calls unwarranted and illegal actions taken by officers of the Imo State Police Command against residents of the community. This condemnation follows ongoing tensions arising from a land dispute involving the Zion Ministry.

In a statement released on Thursday, MYA President Kelechi Onyeike and Secretary Osinachi Okere expressed shock at the alleged disrespect shown toward traditional authorities by police, under the direction of Evangelist Ebuka Obi, founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach.

The association highlighted the recent detention of HRH Eze Hyacinth Nwamadi, the royal leader of Eziama Autonomous Community, as a violation of both human rights and local traditions.

“This desecration of our traditional institution was accompanied by a brutal night raid on August 16, 2026,” the statement read. According to MYA, police officers entered the community and arrested a newlywed groom just hours after his wedding ceremony, forcing him to spend his first night as a married man in custody. The young man had recently returned from Ghana.

The association also reported that a community member, identified as Mr. Chikezie, was violently assaulted and detained for questioning the legality of the police operation. A minor was reportedly taken into custody during this incident as well.

As officers left Eziama, they allegedly fired indiscriminately into the air, instilling fear among residents and detaining additional young people who were going about their daily activities.

MYA claims this recent surge in police activity is linked to a petition filed with the State Command concerning the alleged destruction of a fence at the Zion Ministry in Mbaishii. The association noted that this land dispute has a tragic history; the previous year, Okechukwu Nwafor was killed in the community, a victim of gun violence that remains unresolved.

Onyeike and Okere reminded the authorities that the community’s peaceful demeanor should not be misconstrued as weakness. “We have chosen restraint and legal avenues to pursue justice,” they stated.

The association called for a fair resolution, urging Evangelist Ebuka Obi and the Zion Prayer Movement to negotiate amicably with the landowners rather than resorting to police intimidation.

Moreover, they demanded the immediate release of HRH Eze Hyacinth Nwamadi, the newlywed groom, Mr. Chikezie, the minor, and all other individuals unlawfully detained.

“Intimidation of our people and disrespect for our traditional leadership will only exacerbate the crisis,” they warned. They concluded with a caution that if the arrests and aggressive actions do not cease, the community may seek alternative means to defend their rights, which could have significant consequences for all involved.

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