A combined team of the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested suspected cultists and political thugs terrorising Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
Our correspondent reports that they were apprehended at about 4pm on Wednesday afternoon at Eziukwu compound, Asaga in Arochukwu Local Government Area.
According to residents in the community who spoke to our correspondent, those arrested include: Chikodiri Ukwu, Jacob Ndubuisi and George Onwumere Uloh.
A community leader who pleaded not to be named accused a former Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Mao Ohuabunwa of sponsoring the thugs to intimidate and harass opposition members in the community.
The source said: “Those arrested today are known thugs of Mao Ohuabunwa. These guys were unleashed to intimidate those opposing his senatorial ambition. He went as far as using them to intimidate Nzuko Aro women during their programs in August.
“It is sad how Mao is trying to destroy Arochukwu because of his desperation to return to Abuja in 2023. We want peace in Arochukwu; some people are already accusing him of being behind the insecurity in Ohafia and its environs. Politics shouldn’t be so, because if you kill everyone, who are you going to Abuja to represent?,” he stated.
Though the DSS is yet to make any official statement on the arrest at the time of this report, our correspondent could not reach Mao Ohuabunwa to react to the allegations as he did not pick phone calls from our reporter.