BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
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Tension is mounting at Ihekwuenu-Aku Community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State as the house built by some concerned family members for Mr. Anibueze Nnadi, a blind poor man was destroyed again by suspected hired thugs
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It would be recalled that in September 2021 this house of the blind man which was under construction and was receiving finishing touches was completely pulled down by hired thugs
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Some thugs who the family members of Anibueze alleged that it was the then traditional ruler of the community that was responsible for the demolition since he was dragging the ownership of the land where the house was build with the blind man
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The situation surrounding the demolition in the area generated protest ,accusations and counter-accusations which attracted the attention of the Enugu State Government under the administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who investigated the matter and suspended the traditional ruler (Igwe Okwor).
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Mr. Sunday Ezemagu, a nephew to the blind man who conducted newsmen in Nsukka on Wednesday around the demolished 2- bedroom apartment, said that the incident happened on October 7, around 11:50pm.
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Ezemagu said that his house was very close to Anibueze’s house and he was sleeping when he suddenly heard a loud sound.
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“I peeped from the window and saw some people with touch light wielding dangerous weapons in their hands as the destroy the house.
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“I opened my door quietly and sneaked to a darker corner where I saw, one of the son’s of our suspended traditional ruler directing his boys to destroy my uncle’s house.
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“It pains me because this is the second time they are demolishing my uncle’s house in his own land.
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“This building is kind gesture of some members of Ezemagu’s family who built this new house to enable Nnadi pack out from dilapidated mud house he was living before,” he said.
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Speaking, Nnadi, the blind man, said that some people forced his door open in the middle of the night, beat him up before destroying his house.
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“I was sleeping when some people forced my door open, beat me up tie my mouth so that I will not shout and they even tide my hand and pushed me outside.
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“It was later when they left that some of my family members saw where they dumped me and told me they have destroyed my house again.
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“This is the second time they are attacking and destroying my house, government should urgently come to my rescue before they will come back and kill me,” he said.
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Also speaking, Mrs, Victoria Amuka, a sister to the blind man in tears expressed shock and sadness on how the thugs manhandled his brother, before destroying his house.
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” I visit him every day from my husbands place, when I came on October 8 morning, my brother told me that the hoodlums invaded his house last night, beat him seriously , tied his mouth so that he will not shout and also tied his hands and dragged him outside.
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“They are destroying his house again because, they want him dead so that they claim take all his land.
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“I appeal to the state government to intervene and rescue my brother from this evil perpetrators,” she said.
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Reacting to the latest development, Mr. Sylvester Okpe, the Eldest man in the area, wondered why anybody would destroy the blind man’s house again.
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Okpe said he had given witness to Enugu State Government, Police and relivant authorities that the land where house was built for Nnadi (the blind man) belongs to him.
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“Okwor is taking undue advantage on the poor man, the fact remains that the land in question belongs to Nnadi (the blind man) so nobody should lay claim to it.
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“As the Eldest, I urge Okwor, his and his agents in the name of God to desist from disturbing the blind poor man
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“Enugu state should urgently intervene to save the blind man from further agony and oppression,”he said.
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Also reacting to the incident, Mr. Anthony Didiugwu, the Head of Neighbourhood Watch in the community confirmed the incident but said that the security in the area was yet to fish out those behind the crime.
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” Neighborhood Watch is working towards identifying and fishing out those who destroyed the blind man’s house,” he said.
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Efforts by our reporter, to get comment from Okwor failed, as several calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone were neither picked nor replied, as of the time of filing this report.
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