By NewsCritic Reporters
The Executive Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government Area, LGA, Hon Chief Smart Iheoma has disclosed that plans are underway to restrict the activities of the New Yam (Iri Ji) celebrations to the communities in a bid to maintain public peace.
The Umuahia North Mayor spoke against the backdrop of the attendant violence that had trailed the Iri Ji in many communities, especially the aspect of violent crowds invading the town and markets with dangerous weapons including guns, and engaging in wild acts.
Hon Smart Iheoma narrated his encounter with the youths along Umudike road, and how they used their weapons to dent his official vehicle for no reason whatsoever, and vowed to apprehend the culprits.
He wondered what is good in a celebration that people are injured and sometimes killed outright, citing the instance of the Olokoro incident where Mr. Samson Nwaubani (Sammy) based in Vietnam allegedly died from machete cut at a new Yam Festival.
Hon Iheoma stressed that the best option is to ban their activities or restrict them from entering the town in order to maintain public peace.
Said he “we want to maintain public peace… is Iri Ji a time of war, why holding weapons, why harassing people, injuring people. You heard of what happened in Olokoro that somebody who returned from abroad to celebrate Iri Ji, and never get back to his base as he was killed.
“I’ve not seen this type before, then do it in your community… the Ezes, community leaders they have a role to play here. Anybody wielding weapon should be penalized and discipline…so what are they doing with the cutlasses, what are they doing with the guns.
“I was going to Umudike that day and my aide who was with me saw everything. They dented my vehicle for no reason just because of iri ji, why?
Iheoma spoke at Don 103.7 Fm National Programme The Agenda today, where he also denied allegations that his revenue agents are extorting money from traders at the Isi Gate market Umuahia.
