Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, the National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has been detained by the Ebonyi State Police Command. His detention follows a statement he issued concerning a recent herdsmen attack in the state.
According to reports, Igboayaka was apprehended by armed individuals in Owerri, Imo State, and subsequently transferred to the police headquarters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The arrest is believed to be connected to his public remarks after the deadly assault on Amegu village in Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area.
In his earlier statement, Igboayaka revealed that the OYC's Directorate of Intelligence had alerted Governor Francis Nwifuru about a potential attack four days before the incident. He criticized the governor's perceived inaction, stating, "Unfortunately, we have governors in the South-East who are perceived as uncooperative regarding insecurity, demonstrating a lackadaisical attitude which has led to frequent incidents of killings, kidnapping, banditry, and arson in the South-East."
Comrade David C. Ani, an associate of Igboayaka, confirmed his detention in Abakaliki. Ani reported that the Ebonyi State government acknowledged the arrest, expressing a desire to understand the source of Igboayaka's information regarding the herdsmen attack.
Efforts by Igboayaka's legal counsel to secure his release have been unsuccessful thus far, as discussions between the state's Commissioner for Information and the Commissioner of Police are ongoing.
This development has raised concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of individuals who speak out on security issues in the region.