By Jonathan Ugbal
About one hundred natives of the Ebanimbim community in Ogoja Local Government Area of northern Cross River on Thursday stormed the State command headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force after their Clan head, Ntol Sunny Ajock was invited by the police following a petition by a retired Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Agaji.
Mr. Agaji hails from Egbung, Ebanimbim, and is said to have kicked against the selection of Ntol Ajock as the Clan head which created a situation that led to the burning of his house, the death of his cousin as well as the incarceration of several community members which his kinsmen say was due to his influence.
The people were led by the Chairman of the Bakor Traditional Rulers Council and Paramount Ruler-elect of Ogoja, Ntol Atol Julius Ayate who told newsmen that it was the place of kingmakers to select the new Ntol and not any other person irrespective of social standing.
“After having consulted the Oracles, performing the sacrifices as it (is) demanded by the customary tradition of Bakor, they came up with a particular one (Ntol Ajock),” the monarch said, adding that CP Agaji rtd insisted that it was not his preferred choice which led to the crisis.
“It has never happened, it is not in our history, it is not so, that anybody installs for people, whom they want as a traditional leader. And so, there were protests here and there to follow up. There have been incessant arrests of people from that community resulting in one thing or the other, crisis everywhere, breach of peace, law, and order. It is not to the taste of anybody. It is a serious challenge,” he said, adding that he was leading the charge for reconciliation between the retired CP and his community.
The woman leader of the community, Mrs. Roseline Aleka who broke down in tears while speaking to journalists, disclosed that she was arrested alongside the Clan Head. Mrs. Aleka said they were tired of the continuous arrests and police invitations and sued for the retired CP to embrace dialogue to foster peace.
It will be recalled that in June 2022, Justice Bassey Ebute of the High Court of Cross River State in his ruling on Suit Number HC/22F/2022 held that Mr. Agaji who was the fourth defendant, used his influence as a retired Commissioner of Police to procure them to arrest and lock up Mr. Benjamin Seshe, a native of Ebanimbim for over a month.
His counsel, F. Baba Isa Esq had in a statement issued after the ruling said Mr. Seshe was ready to make peace with CP Agaji (rtd) even though, “the entire community has vowed that for every member of the community CP Agaji (rtd) got arrested, or will get arrested in the future, they will approach the court to seek redress.”
After nearly three hours of waiting, the monarchs and CP Agaji (rtd) were attended to by the Commander, Operation Restore Peace, SP Essien Efoli who suggested alternative dispute resolutions as the first step towards peacebuilding. The interview, which lasted almost an hour, finished at about 4:50 PM with the people leaving for Ogoja, a six-hour journey, at about 6:00 PM. They agreed to meet again on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
Who is CP Joseph Agaji rtd?
Mr. Agaj, according to publicly available information, joined the Police in 1983 and rose through the ranks. He is said to have served as the first commander after helping set up the dreaded and now disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad unit of the Anambra State Police Command, located at Awkuzu.
He was promoted alongside another Cross Riverian, Undie Adie (now an Assistant Inspector General of Police) to the rank of Commissioner of Police by the Police Service Commission on February 23, 2017. Furthermore, he was decorated in April 2017, by the then Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim. Mr. Idris had during the event and later, at a meeting with senior police officers from the rank of CP and above, warned personnel of the force against unlawful arrests and detention of innocent Nigerians. He directed CPs to ensure the close supervision of operations of all units in their commands to avoid unpleasant situations.
CP Agaji pulled out of service in a colorful ceremony in Lagos on December 29, 2018.
