Harrowing Tales from Mburubu: Youths Tortured, Elders Intimidated, and a Child Left with Broken Leg Amid One Man's Igweship Ambition

                        By 

        Kingsley Ejiofor Ekeuramah, 

(President, Concerned Enugu State Youths)

Mburubu community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State is reeling from a wave of violence, intimidation, and outright lawlessness orchestrated by a controversial figure, Jerry Patrick Onuakaibe, in his relentless quest to impose himself as the traditional ruler of the community. What was once a peaceful village steeped in tradition has become a theater of fear, as elders, youths, and even children bear the brunt of a power struggle that defies both law and morality.

The nightmare reached a crescendo when the High Court of Enugu State, presided over by Hon. Justice C. O. Ajah, on Monday, 24th November 2025, issued far-reaching orders restraining the Nigerian Police Force, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, and the SWAT Squad from further arrests, harassment, or intimidation of the Mburubu community. This ruling followed ex parte applications by ten applicants, led by Eze Cletus Elija, who recounted harrowing tales of torture, arbitrary detention, and dehumanization at the hands of police operatives acting under the influence of Onuakaibe.

The roots of the crisis trace back to January 2025, when a High Court judgment disqualified Onuakaibe from contesting the Igweship stool of Mburubu, citing the community’s 2003 Constitution, which clearly mandates the rotation of the throne among six villages by seniority. After the death of the last Igwe, hailing from Umudara, the right to succession fell on Uhunegbe, the second-oldest village. Yet, in blatant defiance of the law and the court, Onuakaibe of Umunafor (the fifth in seniority) continued to parade himself as a contender, even attempting to host the New Yam Festival, for which he had no authority.

The court documents paint a chilling picture of abuse. On 3rd November 2025, community members who refused to endorse Onuakaibe’s unauthorized festival were reportedly arrested, their liberties stripped in what many describe as “state-enabled persecution.” Evidence presented to the court revealed a campaign of intimidation targeting not just youths but elders, including respected community leaders. Some individuals endured days of detention and alleged torture, with a broader list of 70 others, including the Honourable Prince Lawrence Eze, Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, receiving intimidating invitations from the police, all under the shadow of Onuakaibe’s influence.

The cruelty extended even to children. Shocking reports confirm that a four-year-old child was thrown from a moving motorcycle, resulting in a broken leg a horrifying act that underscores the extreme lengths to which Onuakaibe’s faction has gone to terrorize the community. A youth was also shot and injured during the wave of attacks, heightening fears among residents who have long lived in apprehension of the self-styled Igwe’s wrath.

Amid the storm, the court’s orders offer a glimmer of hope. Justice Ajah emphatically restrained the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, the SWAT Squad, and all their agents from further interference in the community, reinforcing that no arrests related to the Igweship dispute should occur until the substantive case is resolved. The ruling also highlighted Onuakaibe’s blatant disobedience of court directives, including a public electronic flier announcing his unlawful festival, a brazen affront to judicial authority.

In the midst of this chaos, an attempt to smear the reputation of Dr. Prince Lawrence Eze, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, was firmly rejected. A press statement from his media aide, Dr. Chidipeters Okorie, clarified that the commissioner had no connection, direct or indirect, to the violence, intimidation, or arrests. The statement accused Onuakaibe of spreading falsehoods, branding innocent community members as criminals, IPOB/ESN affiliates, or hoodlums to manipulate public perception and mask his illegal maneuvers. Dr. Ezeh, it affirmed, has consistently advocated for lawful dialogue and peace, remaining steadfast in service despite attempts to tarnish his name.

For the people of Mburubu, the court ruling is more than a legal victory, it is a lifeline to reclaim dignity, justice, and the sanctity of their traditions. Yet the scars run deep. Elders traumatized by harassment, youths who have witnessed violence up close, and children bearing physical injuries remind the nation of the high cost of ambition unchecked by law or conscience.

Mburubu now faces the daunting task of healing and rebuilding trust within a community fractured by fear, manipulation, and intimidation. As the law steps in to protect the innocent, the tale of this village stands as a somber warning: when power is pursued at the expense of humanity, the most vulnerable pay the heaviest price.