Eze Nicholas Njoku assures solidarity with journalist in Lagos, resolve misconstrued actions, strengthens bond.
By Naomisophyblog
Eze Nicholas Njoku the Ezendigbo Aigbaka of Ejigbo in a press briefing with journalist address the shooting incidence at his residence during his just concluded New Yam Festival in Ejigbo Lagos.
Also in attendance is: HRM Igwe livinus obinna Ezenwa, Igwe Nkata Ukwu of Umuomaku Ancient Kingdom Orumba South Local Govt. of Anambra State and some members of the cabinet of Aigbaka Ejigbo.
Subsequently there were reports by the press of an alleged offensive misguided utterances from Eze Njoku when journalist and guest addressed their concerns on how security personnels attached to him during the New Yam Festival scared people in attendance with indiscriminate display of gun shots seen as a deliberate act that should be cautioned so as to avoid casualties but was taken with levity as the Eze saw no real danger in the display.
To address this situation, Eze Njoku gathered journalist to reassure that he is a man of peace and as such he will make efforts for peace to reign. Says he tried to phantom the reason for the malicious reports with headline “IGP urged to investigate police misuse of firearms during New Yam festival in Lagos” flying around but would have preferred if the press who attended the new yam festival had a private chat with him on their grieviance rather than make reports to assassinate his character.
While recounting the antecedents leading to this reports, He said:
The Igbo community in Ejigbo to be specific Aigbaka Ejigbo celebrated New Yam Festival on 30th, September 2023. During the event, there was overwhelming crowd but to my amazement after the event, I started seeing on social media that some people were assaulted. I inquired further and i heard that there was indiscriminate shooting in the air by policemen. I am aware that i had two policemen attached to me and i know these men are well educated on what to do in any situation.
However, the fact still remains that on the said day, the pressure was much, the crowd was much also and many dignitaries that attended the event came with their police escorts. After the event, i learnt about reports making rounds on the internet of shooting and assaults at the event. I am not disputing the said occurrence because i was not the one holding a rifle what i am not sure of is the actual police man who shot or assaulted.
There wasn’t any casualty but i noticed at a stage the policemen were trying to close the gate and block some more persons from coming in due to the mammoth crowd at the event, it was also reported that some area boys were trying to get in. Immediately i summoned the head of security at the school gate and he explained why these boys were not allowed , says they seem like persons that might disrupt the event but i insisted that the event is free for all and there are policemen who can arrest such situations if the need arises.
I do not know the exact incidence that led to the alleged shootings. My attached policeman has asked his colleagues who were on ground on the said day but none seems to have admitted to being that indiscriminate. There were so many policemen, Army officers, O. P. C in attendance on the New Yam Festival Celebration day too.
Rumors also spread that someone or some journalists came to me reporting about the violent activities of the police during the event and that i challenged them. I want to clarify that as a peacemaker and a United Nation Ambassador, i will not do such or allow such an incident to happen, a reason I called for a press briefing to address this concerns. I cannot work without the journalists and i can not fight journalists. They are important to the society and i know they are needed both now and in the future. So i can not disobey their advice or fail to listen to their complaints.
Also about the complaints laid against policemen telling journalists to go home if they can’t stand the shooting i want to state that i asked my police escort and such claims was refuted however there were many visiting police officers and not all of them we can reach.
In conclusion i have a great job to do for my people to promote peace and unity amongst ‘the Igbos’ and the society at large but i must start from somewhere. All the alleged occurence during the event is an eye opener for me. More also, the journalist who have criticized this event online have challenged me to do better, i also seize this opportunity to apologize and draw them closer because their criticisms has been an eye opener on what needs to be done to become a better leader.
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Eze Nicholas Njoku made a peaceful truce with journalists by reassuring of utmost cooperation and listening ears at any given time he needs to be guided on certain crucial matters.
