DUFUTH PRO petitions traditional ruler over burglary, wanton property theft by local hoodlums

The Public Relations Officer of David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), Uburu, Ebonyi State, Okorie Agwu Nwogo, has raised the alarm over the rising wave of robbery, cult and gang related activities in rural communities in Ebonyi state, calling for urgent action from traditional institutions to stem the tides.

 

The alarm was following the recent burgling of his house in his village, Agbaenyim, Okposi Okwu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, leading to complete looting of his household property and important documents by the burglars.

 

Nwogo, in a petition addressed to the traditional ruler of Okposi-okwu, his home community, Onyibe Chukwu Agwu, narrated how his house was burgled, vandalised and completely emptied by suspected hoodlums allegedly led by one of his cousins, Josiah Okereke Nwogo and his cohort, Chukwu Igwe Nwachi,

 

The incident according to the petition, occurred on Sunday, June 29, 2025, when the PRO visited his hometown to discover that his house had been burgled.

 

He explained that prior to his travelling home, he had received a distress call from the main culprit’s mother alerting him of the crime being perpetrated by his son, expressing her disapproval of the act.

 

Nwogo narrated: Around 11:30 pm, Josiah’s mother called me in distress, reporting that Josiah and Chukwu had returned to the apartment and were damaging the padlocks.

 

“She was crying, having been physically assaulted by Josiah, his son for attempting to prevent him.

 

“I attempted to reach the Obiozara divisional Police Officer that night, but he was unreachable, so the gang had their way.

 

“Padlocks were shattered, windows removed, and all my belongings carted away, including family heirlooms, kitchenware, electronic gadgets, documents, and cherished wedding gifts,”

 

The victim lamented that even personal effects of his late parents, including his father’s overseas certificates and awards, were not spared.

 

Among the stolen items according to him were a 43-inch television, DVD and audio players, kitchen equipment, baby items, clothing, wrappers, and cash of over one hundred thousand naira.

 

He informed in the petition that one of the stolen items, a traditional three-legged iron pot, was recovered from a woman from a neighbouring locality, Amogbu, who claimed she received it unknowingly from the lead suspect, Josiah.

 

Nwogo further recounted prior signs of encroachment, including a warning from Josiah’s mother about the illegal rental of part of the house to students and lamented that despite his intervention and a subsequent meeting with the village elders where the suspects were cautioned, they still went ahead to burgle and loot his house.

 

He called on the royal father for urgent cultural and legal steps to bring the perpetrators to book while urging him to institute tighter checks in Agbenyim village to curtail the rising wave of cult and gang related activities as well as robbery in the area.

 

In an interview with our reporter, the DUFUTH PRO lamented that the incident has left him heartbroken, adding that he has reported it to the police.

 

He valued the property carted away by the hoodlums at over N15 million.

 

“I have been left heartbroken and humiliated.

 

“This was not just theft, but a desecration of my home, my history, and the memory of my late parents.”, he lamented.