Militants who were after my life, razed my house to ground, now threatening my family — Chukwuyeremka
An indigene of Imo State, who lived in Lagos, Mr. Silva Ezeh Chukwuyeremka has cried out for help over threats to his life and that of his family by a group of hired militants who were responsible for razing his house to the ground, claiming that his wife’s and children’s lives might be in danger after receiving a barrage of dreadful messages.
Mr. Silva Ezeh Chukwuyeremka was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Festus Ezebuala, on the 25th of June 1972 in Amadaba Ibiasoegbe in our East Local Government Area of Imo state. He had his primary education there.
Before his migration to Lagos State where he learnt trading and married his wife Loveth Chioma Ezeh and had their children, Blessing Ezeh, Emmanel Ezeh, Raymond Ezeh, Ifeoma Precious Ezeh, Chidera Destiny Ezeh and Chiwundu Victoria Ezeh.
While growing up he was taught about lands and boundaries by his father and was given a portion of the land to build his house. Like many others in the village, he was also aware of the person, Mr. Bernard Okolie whom he shared boundaries with.
Eye witness account had it that the land had been owned by his family for generations where they had been cultivating on it too.
On April 26, 2019, he travelled to his village. Upon reaching there, he found out that there was a building foundation on the land of Mr. Bernard Okolie. He had thought it was the son who laid foundation on their land.
Few days after, on April 28, 2019 to be precise, a meeting was called by the elders of the community, where he was present. He was soon to discover that the reason for the meeting was as a result of the building going on in Mr. Bernard Okolie’s land.
He also discovered that it was a different person building house on the land whose name, Mr. Peter Dunonye.
After a heated argument about ownership of the land, he was called to give evidence from what he knew, he had to testify, based on his knowledge, that Mr. Bernard Okolie was the rightful owner of the land. Even the elders knew that too that the land was Mr. Bernard Okolie’s. The elders told Mr. Peter Dunonye to stop building on the land.
A day after he went back to Lagos on April 30, 2019, he received a call from his elder sister Stella Ohika, who broke the sad news that his house had been demolished on the night of April 29, 2019.
For safety of his life, other family members advised him to stay off the village for the time being.
Other Elders of the community testified to the incident contracted by some hoodlums who have since then been after his life.
They promised to investigate and bring those responsible to book. On May 2, 2019. He was informed that Peter Dunonye was given 21 days to provide the people that demolished the house, or be banished from the community as the tradition demands.
Before the 21 days ultimatum expired on May 14, 2019, he began to receive threatening messages through Whatsapp by one Mr. Micheal Otombolo, the Leader of a militant group.
He became more worried and scared especially when he was told he should not have testified against Mr. Peter Dunonye.
While demanding for N100,000,000.00, they threatened that his life might be in jeopardy if he refused to make the payment.
For the protection of his wife and children, he relocated them to his in-laws house until everything was okay. This threat never stopped as his tormentor continued to call him and most times described his exact location. They also threatened to harm him if he reported to the Police.
Because every of his movement was monitored with consistent phone calls and description of his location which was true, he decided to go into hiding and often slept in car.
Because he had become tired and could no longer bear the threat anymore, he contacted his friend Ifeanyi Mbewu in Canada about his predicament and ordeal. He decided to help him with a letter of invitation to come to Canada since he had the Visa to Canada already.
Fortunately, Mr. Ifeanyi Mbewu sent the letter of invitation to him indicating that his life was in danger in Nigeria. On June 5th, 2019 he fled Nigeria to Canada. He arrived in Canada on June 6th, 2019 and immediately made a refugee claim at the port of entry in Toronto.
Even after his arrival, more threat messages were still sent to his phone by this militant group and at this time it was a different threat because, according to him, “they said they would go after my wife and children if I did not show up.”
On June 20th, 2019 his sales associate called him that there were some men who came to look for him in the store and he said they secretly took a photograph of one of them but he could not recall if he had met the man on the photograph.
On June 22nd, 2019 he received a call from his wife who told him that she too had begun to receive life threatening messages.
She received another message from one Micheal on July 7th, 2019 with a warning of an impending danger awaiting her and the children if her husband failed to show up.
According to her, they said “enough is enough.” He told her to look for a way to sell the shop so she could take the children to her elder sister’s place in Asaba for the time being.
According to Mr. Chukwuyeremka, “The forgoing facts are the reasons why I fled Nigeria to Canada. I am pleading to the Canadian Government to grant me protection.”
Meanwhile, a Royal Highness who did not want his name mentioned on media over fear of retribution confirmed this incident to our correspondent.
According to the Monarch, “For safety of his life, he was advised to be in hiding and never attempt visiting home.”
While speaking with our correspondent, the traditional leader added that “They demolished the house in annoyance because they could not find him after shooting sporadically in and around the compound.”
Also, when our correspondent further contacted Ibiasoegbe Divisional Police Station, Inspector Adamu of the Division confirmed the incident but promised that investigation was ongoing.
However, efforts by our correspondent to reach his wife, Mrs Loveth Ezeh was not successful.
