The Bakor Nation Traditional Rulers Council Ogoja/Ikom in Cross River State has cautioned a retired police Commissioner Joseph Agaji over a breach of peace in the community.
The community noted with dismay that the retired police commissioner, who is an illustrious son of the community, was fond of prying into matters that were traditional and not within his jurisdiction.
King Sunny Agaji, the Clan Head of Ebanibim Kingdom, said the people of the community went directly to meet its ancestors with six names and his name came out.
“Following my emergence, I was arrested and taken to Abuja where I spent 13 days there alongside eight of my subjects on the orders of the retired police commissioner.
“When I came back, the police again invited us in September last year and when we sent our people there, they were again arrested and taken to Abuja where they spent four months.
“We have about four cases in court against him and three have been dispensed in our favour yet the police are still inviting us for interrogation”, he said.
Also speaking, HRH Ntol Atol Sir Julius Ayate, the Chairman of Bakor Traditional Rulers Council said they have decided to formally register their protest to the Police High Command in Calabar over the handling of the chieftaincy dispute.
He said, “When a Chief travels, it is absolutely the responsibility of the kingmakers of the community to install their traditional ruler.
“In this case, the retired police commissioner came up and said it is his responsibility to install a traditional ruler. This has never happened.
“Several arrests have been carried out in that community, often resulting in one thing or the other. There is crisis everywhere and breach of peace and order. So this is a serious challenge to our customs and values.
“This abominable interference and intemperate attempt to alter our age long tradition sparked off protest that disrupted peace in the community.
“We have done a lot of write ups on this and we feel it is too much and we can’t tolerate this,” he said.
Roseline Alekam, a woman leader of the community said that only the elders of the community can talk about the kingship, not the younger ones.
She said the Ebanimin community needs peace and the retried commissioner should come home as they don’t use a cutlass to cut a child when he does something wrong.
Comrade Igede Mark, the youth leader said they had been doing everything possible to ensure the matter came to an end.
The retired police commissioner could not be reached for comments.
However, the state police commissioner Aminu Alhassan said no one is above the law and they are still investigating the matter.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
