By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The leadership and people of Akwaihedi Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State have formally distanced themselves from what they described as a misleading, malicious and false narrative currently circulating on social media in connection with a trending security-related video.
The reaction comes amid the viral video alleging that a young man was killed in a bush in the community by men wearing military uniforms.
In the trending video, a voice was overheard claiming that the victim was killed by soldiers who also allegedly stripped the narrator naked and threatened to kill him if he “messed up.” The narrator in the video further alleged that some other individuals — Sunday Ojiego, Obinwanne Okafor and Sunday Albert — were also threatened while on their way to work.
However, reacting to the video and the allegations, the community, in a press statement signed by its President General, Hon. (Barr.) Oliver Mbagwu, expressed concern over what it called a deliberate attempt by certain individuals to distort facts and paint Akwaihedi in a negative light, despite its long-standing reputation as a peaceful and law-abiding community that cooperates fully with security agencies.
Clarifying the circumstances surrounding the viral video, the President General stated unequivocally that the individual seen in the footage is neither a resident, a representative, nor a member of Akwaihedi Community. According to him, the suspect was one of the gunmen and criminal elements earlier apprehended by soldiers operating around the Orsumuoghu axis during a security operation targeting criminal hideouts in the area.
Hon. Mbagwu further explained that after his arrest, the suspect deceitfully led the soldiers into Akwaihedi under the false pretense that he would take them to the hideout of his accomplices. It was during this process, the community leader said, that the suspect attempted to escape from custody before he was fully demobilized, an action that led to the development captured in the now circulating video.
The President General strongly condemned the attempts by some individuals to twist the incident and maliciously link the criminal suspect’s actions to Akwaihedi Community, describing such actions as unacceptable, misleading and aimed at tarnishing the image of the community.
He stressed that Akwaihedi has consistently supported legitimate security operations geared towards protecting lives and property and has over the years maintained a strong working relationship with law enforcement agencies in the area to ensure sustained peace and order.
While urging members of the public, media practitioners and social media users to disregard the false narrative being propagated, the community reaffirmed its commitment to truth, transparency and peaceful coexistence. The leadership emphasized that there is relative peace in Akwaihedi and that the community is not occupied by any insurgents, contrary to claims being peddled in some quarters.
The statement further warned those spreading the false narrative to desist from such acts, noting that the community will not hesitate to take appropriate legal and civic steps to protect its good name and integrity if the misinformation persists.
