Anambra ex-community leader alleges threat to life

The former President General of Amichi Community in the Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Cletus Udebuani, has raised the alarm over alleged threat to his life because of the developments he brought to his community while in office.

Udebuani, in a letter of appeal written to President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; and the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Nnanna Oji, as well as the Nnewi South Local Government Authority, passionately called for urgent intervention over the escalating security threat to his life and the attempt to truncate the development of Amichi community.

He accused certain individuals of masterminding the threats on his life, and “boasting to deal” with him as they did to others.

The former PG, whose tenure ended in August 2026, said the major challenge he encountered while as PG was that he stood his ground and refused to be compromised by those who wanted to hijack the development of Amichi community and turn a market project into a private estate.

According to him, at the expiration of his tenure as President-General, election could not be conducted as there was a court order barring the government and other responsible bodies from conducting election.

He added that after the dissolution of his administration, the Anambra State Government appointed and inaugurated a caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the town pending when it is feasible for election to be conducted, adding that he handed over to the government-appointed caretaker committee and the account of his stewardship was fully rendered with bank statements.

According to him, when he started construction of new plazas at Amichi New Market, he gave adequate information and notice to all the authorities involved who in turn gave him maximum cooperation and support, including the Board of Trustees, the local government, stakeholders and the general Assembly, adding that the speed at which those plazas were built clearly showed that the general assembly and stakeholders supported him wholesomely.

The letter titled, ‘My life is in danger because I brought development to my town as the President-General of Amichi Community’, was made available to our correspondent in Awka, on Tuesday.

It read, “The sun rose in the leadership helm of Amichi Town on the 6th day of August, 2022. This period was a turbulent one, as it was a time when Anambra State and indeed the entire South-East were battling the rising surge and wave of insecurity and crime. Kidnapping, killings, and fear of unknown gunmen had taken over the region. Many towns had become ghost towns.

“Amichi is a very big town blessed with many rich sons and daughters, both millionaires and billionaires, and made up of four quarters. But at that time, Amichi was almost becoming desolate. People could not go home. People could not hold events in the town.

“Traditional marriages, funerals, and festivals were moved to Nnewi, Onitsha or Awka because of fear of the men of the underworld. Landlords abandoned their houses. Business collapsed.

“Having emerged as President General of Amichi Development Union at this critical point, with the certificate of recognition issued by the State Government, I decided with the heart of a lion to weather the storm and restore stability, calm, peace and security back to Amichi.

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“My first major battle was security, which took almost two years to fight. It was not easy. We traversed the length and breadth of all the branches where Amichians are domiciled – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and in the Diaspora – and preached the gospel of putting irity model became so effective that neighbouring communities came to Amichi to learn from him, adding that today, Amichi has been stabilised as people have started coming home again and events returned to the town without fear and the community became a reference point for community policing.

He listed his achievements in market rebuilding which has become a legacy project in the community and other measures he undertook on peace and recognition, turning the community into a commercial hub.

“My crime is that I brought development to Amichi. The major challenge I encountered was that I stood my ground and refused to be compromised by those who wanted to hijack the development of Amichi community and turn the market project into a private estate.

“As the President General of Amichi community, I was a member of the Board of Trustees and carried along members of the Board in discharging his duties. I never acted alone.”

He said he faced threats and attempts to disrupt the market construction even after he left office, adding that the attempts to frustrate the development of Amichi have become more direct and threatening.

“One individual stated categorically that he will deal with me as he dealt with others. In an attempt to cause further unrest, this particularly person has engaged some individuals to insult and castigate me on social media and in voice notes.

“Despite this effort, stakeholders and well-meaning members of the community stood in solidarity and in my defence because of my visible commitment to the development and peace of Amichi.

“This individual has threatened to have me arrested and imprisoned, boasting of his connections within the Nigeria Police Force.

“… I, Chief Cletus Udebuani, use this opportunity to make a passionate appeal and call for urgent intervention over the escalating security threat to my life and the attempt to truncate the development of Amichi community.

“My appeal goes to President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu; Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; and the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnanna Oji as well as the Nnewi South Local Government Authority.

“I can no longer come back to Amichi, my town, for fear of being attacked. My life is in danger. My name, dignity and integrity has been constantly subjected to public ridicule.

“I am a law-abiding citizen who only brought development to my town. I call on President Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, and the Inspector General of Police to protect me and to ensure that no one uses Federal might to oppress, intimidate and silence a community leader,” the appeal concluded.