By Bose
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The youths of Igbo-ukwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, have rescued the only son of a dressed native doctor, who allegedly chained and locked him inside a yam barn for about five years.
The shocking discovery was greeted with disbelief and anger in the community, who were meant to believe that the young man had travelled out of the country.
The victim, identified as Chigbo Agudo, was discovered after a rumour and suspicion compelled the youths to swing into action and demand answers about his sudden disappearance.
For years, villagers were made to believe that Chigbo had travelled to China, a narrative repeatedly told by his father, who is feared in the community for his activities as a native doctor. Unknown to them, the young man had been languishing in chains within the compound.
The rescue operation and the emotion were captured in a video from the scene, which is currently trending on social media, and in which it was observed that even when the youths confronted Chigbo’s father about his son’s whereabouts, he remained defiant, insisting that Chigbo was his child and that whether dead or alive, it was nobody’s business.
The angry youths vehemently opposed this response vowed to expose any evil they see in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s security advocacy: “If you see something, say something”.
The response from Chigbo’s father further inflamed suspicion, prompting the youths to ransack his compound. And to their horror and shock, they eventually uncovered the young man, chained both hands and legs inside the family yam barn.
The viral video also captured the pathetic state and heartrending condition of the victim, who, during interview, revealed that he had been locked up since July 3, 2021. According to him, he was initially kept outside (also behind the compound) but was later moved into the yam barn a month later when he fell ill.
Since then, he had remained there, occasionally mouth-tied and surviving on occasional meals.
As is seen in the video, the rescuers faced difficulty unlocking him, as the padlock and chains had rusted after years of disuse. Even after applying oil to the key, it could not still open, forcing the youths to cut through the chain with a saw before finally setting him free.
Reacting, the Anambra State Police Command said it has launched an investigation into the shocking discovery.
Commending the youths of the community for the proactive role they played in uncovering the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, described their action as a clear example of community partnership in policing.
The CP, in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, on Sunday, directed police operatives to immediately investigate “the disturbing report circulating in the media regarding a young man identified as Chogbo (popularly known as Agudo) from Igboukwu, who was allegedly kept in chains for 5 years by his father with claims that he had travelled abroad.”
“Preliminary inquiries are ongoing to establish the facts, safeguard the victim’s well-being, and the Command assures that where culpability is established, those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law.
“Meanwhile, the victim has been rescued and is receiving necessary care.
“The Command commends the youths of the community for the proactive role they played in uncovering the incident, describing their action as a clear example of community partnership in policing.”
