From Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia
Residents of Umuechefu Obiuno quarters, in Igboukwu community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, have reportedly deserted their homes over the presence of a deadly shrine, Iyioji Ogbu.
The shrine was said to have been imported from Umueri community, in Anambra East Local Government Area, on a genocide mission to the area, forcing residents to flee in droves.
It was gathered that the shrine was erected in the family compound of two siblings over their alleged indebtedness over N10 million worth of goods.
Sources disclosed that the people who brought the shrine had approached it to kill the debtors, their families and others who benefit from them.
Prior to the planting of the shrine, the chief priest reportedly invited the accused to the shrine at Umueri with N5,000 delivery service cost and a crate of beer to come and defend themselves on the said N10 million debt allegation, which they failed to honour, as there was no such debt, according to them.
For this, the accusers took the shrine to their family compound on March 18, 2017, which has continued to cause uncertainty, tension and fear.
Consequently, residents were said to have started fleeing in droves, which made the siblings to petition the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula, through their counsel, Barr. Muoneke Eliseus Kanayo, pleading that the man who took them to the shrine, the chief priest and his errand boys should be arrested and prosecuted.