The report by the Department of Security Service, (DSS) in Anambra state, on the Ojoto community traditional stool saga is missing from the government records, The Nation learnt.
As a result, higher authorities have directed the Anambra state government to produce the document without further delay for peace to return in the area.
The Nation gathered that the DSS submitted the report to the state government after investigations that would lead to the crowning ceremony
Two persons are contesting the traditional stool of the community. They are, Chief Gerald Mbamalu and Chief Dennis Okafor.
The former was handed over the staff of office and certificate by the government, after the community had selected and elected the latter and presented him to the local government and state.
The people were waiting for the official announcement from the government when the community heard a different result. The situation drew bad blood in the community
One of the senior police officers, who revealed this to The Nation, said the said authorities had deployed many security operatives in plain clothes to the community.
“There are people up there that don’t like what is going on in many places in Nigeria, the reason, the issue of militant groups springing up in different parts of the country.
“People of that community should be careful because anyone picked must go in for it no matter his status in the society.
“The state government should show neutrality instead of causing confusion in communities. If the people made their choice, it has to be so because they own the place and know who they want.
“We learnt the matter is in court in Anambra, let them wait to hear the court verdict.
“But the personnel deployed to the area to maintain peace will not hesitate to pick anyone found wanting. Such troops had equally been deployed to many areas in Nigeria, not only in Anambra,” the source said.
Meanwhile, one of lawyers to the plaintiffs in the Ojoto community traditional stool tussle, Kingsley Iruba, told the presiding judge, Justice, Emeka Nri-Ezedi when the matter came up on Thursday, that the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters should be made to present the DSS report to the court and not to appear as a witness.
(The Nation)
