Councillorship aspirant flee over threat to life in Delta

A councillorship aspirant in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Chidi John Chinedu, has alleged series of threats to his life over his political ambition.

Chinedu’s immediate family have had relocated from the country for fear of also being hurt.

His relative, Mr. Henry. O. Goru, said on Friday that Chinedu has gone into hiding for fear of being killed by some unidentified persons that had constantly threatened him.

He said that Chinedu’s political opponents had gone further to make good their threat and had encroached his family estate.

Goru disclosed that the councillorship aspirant was kidnapped in 2014 and later released after huge ransom was collected, adding that his wife had on several occasions been harassed by unidentified gunmen.

He said that the problem started in 2014 when Chinedu made his first attempt to contest as a lawmaker in his LGA, adding that the attack intensified in July 2017 when a second attempt was made in the just concluded local government election.

“Chinedu had been in intense battle over the ownership of his family estate. This include landed property, a large expanse of land situated along Ewulu/Kwale Road in Ewulu junction, Delta State.

“The expanse of land is heavily cropped with economic trees in excess of 2000 stands of oil palm trees. We suspect a traditional leader in the area may have been sending those unidentified gunmen to threaten him and his family. They have also conspired to dispose our family of this landed and developed property.

“Issues took an alarming turn in 2014 when my cousin, Chidi John Chinedu, was preparing to contest as a councillor of ward 9A in Ewulu to represent the community in the LGA. On August 5, 2014, he was kidnapped by heavily armed gunmen along the Ewulu road but was released after three days upon collection of ransom and after inflicting bodily harms on him.”

In a telephone conversation, Chinedu confirmed the development, alleging that a traditional ruler in his community was involved in the attacks.

Chinedu said his wife have had to abandon her job with the Delta State Government to relocate abroad for safety.

He said that the matter had been reported to the police and a case had been filed in court.

“I suspect that one of the traditional leaders in my community is among the sponsors of the series of attacks. I gathered that one of such attack was planned from his home. We have reported the matter to the police and a case had been instituted in court. But for now, I want to save my head,” he said.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, said he does not have details of the matter, but promised to call back.

He, however, did not call back as at the time of filing this report.