One Olisa Igbonwa, a businessman from Okebunoye village, Alor, Idemili South local government area of Anambra state has been buried alive (empty casket) by the elders of his village for taking an unmerited chieftaincy title.
The elders met and took the decision to ‘bury and mourn’ Mr Igbonwa alive on Tuesday for taking ‘Ichie Ngene’ title by himself in the community.
The elders considered his behaviour a sacrilege and allowed him a period of six months to retrace his steps. But when Mr Igbonwa did not, the elders ‘placed him’ in a casket with his name written on it, marched through the community road to a forest where they ‘buried’ him alive, chanting songs in the process.
One of the elders from the village who spoke on the conditions of anonymity said Mr Olisa Igbonwa was not physically present inside the coffin, adding that the practice of ‘burying’ him alive is to demonstrate his banishment from the village.
When contacted, Ikenga Tochukwu, the public relations officer of the Anambra State Police Command said the command had taken notice of the activities of the village elders.
He confirmed that Olisa Igbonwa is alive and was never buried alive but a casket with a note which his name was written was buried by the community elders.
He said: “The Command received a formal complaint from one chief Olisa Igbonwa that he received a chieftiancy title from HRM Igwe Alor but was threatened by one Mr Uzoma Igbonwa and others to renounce the chieftiancy title within 30days or he will face dare consequences”
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng has ordered for discreet investigation into the matter and to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident in order to bring perpetrators to book.
“The CP urged members of the public especially the press to always cross check their facts before publication in order not to mislead the public”.
