One Mr Olisa Igbonwa, from Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, who was reportedly buried alive has resurfaced at the police headquarters in Awka, the state capital.
The LGA where the incident was said to have taken place is where Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, hails from.
A viral video had claimed that Igbonwa was buried alive, explaining that elders of the community met and took a decision to bury and mourn Igbonwa alive for taking ‘Ichie Ngene’ title by himself in the community.
There were also claims that Igbonwa, before he was allegedly buried alive, that the elders of his community put him inside a casket and carried him around the community, before going to a forest to bury him.
But to the chagrin of many, Igbonwa on Wednesday visited the Anambra State Police Command, Awka and told them he was alive, debunking claims he was buried alive.
He informed the state Police Public Relations Officer that he was going ahead to complete the taking of the Ichie title despite the threats of the elders.
He explained that the chieftaincy title for which he was allegedly buried alive by the elders of his community was bestowed on him by HRM Igwe Alor.
He said after receiving the title that one Mr Uzoma Igbonwa, and others asked him to renounce the chieftaincy title within 30 days or face dire consequences.
Following the development, the state police in a statement by its PPRO, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, announced that the reports and the video clip claiming that Igbonwa was buried alive was false and misleading.
The statement read, “The attention of Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a trending video clip and online publication credited to one Ifeoma Okeke of Umunna TV that one Chief Olisa Igbonwa was buried alive in Alor, Anambra State by the elders of Okebunoye village, Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State and that the elders met and took a decision to bury and mourn Mr Igbonwa alive for taking ‘Ichie Ngene’ title by himself in the community.
“The publication is not only false but also misleading. The Command wishes to state that Olisa Igbonwa is alive and was never buried alive as alleged in the publication.
“Consequently, the Command received a formal complaint from one chief Olisa Igbonwa that he received a chieftaincy title from HRM Igwe Alor but was threatened by one Mr Uzoma Igbonwa and others to renounce the chieftaincy title within 30days or he will face dare consequences.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng has ordered for discreet investigation into the matter and to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident in order to bring perpetrators to book.”
According to the statement the state CP has called on members of the public, especially the press, to always cross-check their facts before publication in order not to mislead the public.
“Meanwhile, investigation is still ongoing and further details shall be communicated please,” the statement added.