Residents of Ogidi in Idemili North Local Council of Anambra State have expressed concerns over insecurity following allegations by the Amobi royal family that they are living under intimidation by suspected thugs within the community.

A principal member of the family, Kene Amobi, who addressed journalists at the family’s residence yesterday, said members of the family now live in fear.

He said that the family members were under siege following the sustained harassment and threats allegedly orchestrated by certain groups in the community.

According to him, the level of the intimidation had created an atmosphere of anxiety, forcing members of the family to remain cautious about speaking openly on the matter.

He alleged that the individuals behind criminal activities in the area were emboldened by the support of some influential people in the community, making it difficult for residents to challenge them without risking reprisals.

Amobi further claimed that the same elements had targeted security initiatives introduced by the family and its members in the Diaspora to improve safety in the area.

He said that concerned family members abroad recently funded the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across some streets in the community as part of efforts to curb criminal activities.

According to him, the initiative was spearheaded by a Diaspora leader of the family in New York, Dr Odinaka Amobi, who also supported road rehabilitation efforts in the area through sand filling of some streets.

However, Amobi alleged that some of the CCTV cameras were later vandalised and carted away by unidentified persons.

“Our Diaspora family members came up with the idea of installing CCTV cameras to check the rising insecurity in our community. Unfortunately, some of these cameras were vandalised and removed,” he said.

He added that the incident had been reported to the police, imploring the security agencies and the state government to urgently intervene to protect members of the family and restore peace in the area.

“We are appealing to the police and the government to come to our rescue because the intimidation is becoming unbearable,” he said.

When contacted, the Spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Command had not received any official report regarding the alleged intimidation.

“I am just hearing of the situation for the first time and there was no such report before the Command,” Ikenga said. (The Guardian)