Abia Villagers Protest With Councillor’s Wife’s Corpse at Police Unit

Residents of Ikwuano LGA in Abia State on Wednesday marched to the Anti-Cult Unit of the state police command in Olokoro, Umuahia South, carrying the body of Mrs. Williams, wife of the Leader of the Ikwuano Legislative Council, Ejike Williams. The nursing mother, who delivered a baby nine days earlier, reportedly collapsed and died shortly after her husband and three fellow councillors were allegedly assaulted and detained by the unit following a petition said to have been filed by a revenue agent.

Her death ignited widespread protests across Ikwuano and Olokoro, with villagers insisting the police were partly responsible because they had refused to release the councillor to check on his wife. Overwhelmed by the agitation, officers from the unit later escorted the protesters to deposit the body at Madonna Hospital Mortuary in Umuahia for a proper investigation.

At the hospital, the Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Digital Economy, Chimeremeze Emeruwa, recounted how an officer nicknamed “Tiger” allegedly attacked him on Tuesday when he appealed for Williams’ release. He condemned the unit’s alleged heavy-handedness, saying they ignored peace interventions from Ikwuano LGA Mayor Anthony Nwaubani and claimed they only answer to the governor and the state commissioner of police.

Detained councillors—including the grieving husband, Ejike Williams, Sunday Uche Okoro, Ukazu Ejike, and Akobundu Agomou—also accused officers of beating them inside the cell and extorting large sums for bail. They described the petition that led to their arrest as unfounded and allegedly orchestrated by a private individual.

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