Obasi-Oparaugo Royal Family Petitions IGP Over Alleged Abduction, Detention By Imo Police Tiger Base Unit Amid Ezeship Struggle

The Obasi-Oparaugo Royal Family of Eziama Uloji Community in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, has written a letter to the Inspector General of Police Dr Kayode Adeola Egbetokun on the unlawful arrest and detention of Prince Anaele Obasi Oparaugo and his supporters by the Tiger base unit of Imo State Police Command

According to the letter written by the family of Prince Anaele Obasi Oparaugo, he and some of his supporters were forcibly arrested on the 14th and 15th of May2025.

In the letter, the family states that the arrest relates to the leadership of the community as Pastor Daniel Iwuamadi is allegedly illegally recognized as the Eze of Eziama Ulorji Autonomous Community by the Tiger base unit of the Nigerian police force as of 22nd of March 2025. “ The kernel of this letter relates to the Ezeship of Eziama Uloji Autonomous
Community, particularly, the unlawful recognition of Pastor Daniel Iwuamadi as the Eze of EziamaUlorji Autonomous Community on the 22nd March, 2025 and the subsequent unlawful arrest and illegal detention of Prince Anaele Obasi Oparaugo
and some of his supporters on 14th May 2025 and 15th May, 2025 respectively.”

According to the letter, “the issue has been going on since 2022 after the death of Eze Canice Anaele Obasi-Oparaugo who was the then Traditional Ruler of Eziama Uloji Autonomous Community. After the death of the then leader a new leader is to assume power and Prince Chris Anaele Obasi-Oparaugo (the eldest son of the late Eze) was selected while the Eze-Elect of the community Mr. Charles Amadi (A.K.A Charlvon) opposed this, and began to sponsor and front Pastor Daniel Iwuamadi to contest for the position and the case was taken to court for a legal proceeding.

“However, as of 22nd of March 2025, while the said case is still in court the Imo State Governor in a most untenable manner presented the certificate of recognition, staff of office and other paraphernalia of office to Pastor Daniel Iwuamadi.

“This caused usurp in the community and among the contestants, this made the family members of Obasi-Oparaugo Royal Family to write a petition to the High Court urging the court to set aside the
certificate of recognition, staff of office and other paraphernalia of office to Pastor Iwuamadi as the Eze of Eziama Uloji Autonomous Community for being illegal and unconstitutional, the said petition has been argued on and the Honorable Judge of the high court has reserved the ruling.

“While this is going on, the Eze elect Mr Charles Amadi (Charvlon) who is the sponsor and brother to Pastor Daniel Iwuamadi was not willing to wait for the Court’s ruling used the Imo state Police command, Tiger base unit as his hand tool to invade the Lagos residence of Prince
“Anaele Obasi-Oparaugo in the most despicable manner without a formal Petition written against him for any alleged offence, abducted and bundled him in hand-cuffs down to Imo State Police Headquarters, Tiger Base Unit.

“After the arrest, Prince Chris Anaele Obasi Oparaugo’s lawyers who went to the Police to secure his release on bail on 15th May, 2025 were not allowed access to their client but were rather, disrespectfully ordered out of the Police Station by Mr. Ola, the commander of Tiger Base Police Unit.

“The commander of the tiger base unit CSP Ola also boasted of having the instruction of the Imo State government to arrest and detain them if they refused to leave the police station.

According to the letter , the Tiger Base Unit of the Nigerian Police Imo State Command is allegedly known for arresting and detaining people without any justification. They (the Tiger Base Unit) ironically boasts of not being answerable to the commissioner of Police except the Governor of Imo state.

They urged the people to lend their voices in rejecting the state of affairs in Imo State and urge the Governor of Imo State to direct the unconditional release of Prince Anaele Obasi-Oparaugo and others from their
detention with immediate effect.