CHIEF CHIWETALU AGU WAS RELEASED BY THE NIGERIAN MILITARY OFFICE IN ENUGU STATE BUT GOT RE-ARRESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SECURITY SERVICES OF ENUGU STATE. (DSS)
In the past three days, the Agu family of Enugu State in the southeast of Nigeria, with the rest of our people and the entire world witnessed with horror the treatment and illegal arrest of our son, father, husband, and brother, Chief Chiwetalu Agu, the popular actor of Nollywood fame. We were privy to his ordeal through video recordings by some courageous citizens and members of our Anambra State community. Our profound gratitude goes to these courageous citizens. They are true heroes.
At about the first 48hrs, starting from October 7th, we were all excited and thankful on hearing about the release of Chief Chiwetalu Agu by the military cantonement in Enugu via his release video that went viral. Our excitement and gratitude were cut short by the sad news of his re-arrest by the Department of State Security Services of Enugu State (DSS). A continuous arrest, we must say.
At any rate, we want to use this medium to express our profound gratitude to the President of the Nigerian Actors Guild, Mr. Emeka Rollas, and his team for weighing into the matter and pleading for Chief Agu’s initial short release. Our huge gratitude also goes to the staff of military office and any other offices unknown to us for their efforts towards the short release of Chief Agu.
We also want to use this opportunity to correct the false impression given by the Nigerian Military that Chief Chiwetalu Agu was arrested because he was soliciting for support for proscribed IPOB. NO. Rather, Chief Chiwetalu Agu was doing exactly was he was known for – charity work. We were not surprised to hear that after buying fresh bread for home, that he also bought and shared to fans that begged for it. Chief Agu is a generous family man, just like our late father, Late Pa Gabriel Agu. Chief Agu is fond of shopping for our families whenever he is returning from any job outside Enugu State. He never failed to buy fresh loaves of bread, tubers of yam, bunches of plantain, bags of rice etc that are being sold by the roadside during his trips, which he shares to various families upon return. Chief Agu’s charity work spreads to Motherless Babies homes, Red Cross, churches, beggars on the streets etc. Just like our late father, Chief Chiwetalu Agu invest in the financially challenged around him. He sponsors some in schools, supported some financially to start up mini businesses and even built a one story building for one of our poor widow anties and her children, who never returned to the village during Christmas holidays for about 7yrs due to being homeless. Meanwhile he, Chief Chiwetalu Agu lives in a bungalow with his own family. If he is a selfish man, he would have been a millionaire with all the money he makes but he is just a very happy average humble man who derives joy in sharing the little he has. He will tell you that he benefits nothing being selfish when people around him suffer. This is Chiwetalu Agu for you. He strongly believes that God wants him to look out for the underserved.
As a lovable movie star, he has no hiding place. It is not unusual that fans surrounds him wherever he goes. You will hear them chanting his different slogans in movies. A nitch he carved for himself. This fact we witness each and everyday. So, what Army saw was a typical of everyday lifestyle of Chief Agu. The only difference was wearing a coloured cloth while doing it, which he is entitled to. How can his goodness land him in trouble? Why?
Until this moment, approaching nearly 96 hours, none of his family members his relatives nor his friends has heard from him. Due to his health challenges, his wife, members of his family, his lawyer, and his doctor went to DSS office in Enugu yesterday to give him food, his medicine, and have the doctor re-assess his health status, more especially his high blood pressure and diabetes, but they were denied access to Chief Chiwetalu Agu. They claimed that he was transferred to Abuja.
Therefore, Chief Chiwetalu Agu’s whereabout is not known and his condition is uncertain. The only certainty at this point is that he was re-arrested by the DSS in Enugu State, Nigeria.
We want to let the entire world know that we the DSS re-consider their action and kindly release Chief Chiwetalu Agu immediately and without conditions to his family in a healthy state of mind before it is too late. Due to the harrassment of his person and the anxieties/worries that come with it, we do not know how badly his blood pressure has been affected.
We also want to bring to your attention that we noted his swollen extremities and puffy eyes on the few videos we watched. Bear in mind that he might be having congestive heart failure, which is evidenced in such signs. This is a silent killer. Also, if his blood sugar level is high or low at this time, we do not know. Such hyper or hypoglycemic reactions resulting from gross neglect of monitoring his blood sugar level, poor dieting, and timely medication administration can be fatal. These are the main reasons why we are asking for his immediate release.
To our knowledge and that of the rest of our people, the Nigerian Constitution guarantees all of us the freedom of movement and expression among other rights that cannot be so brazenly violated as the Nigerian military did and now the DSS.
We are therefore calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Chief Chiwetalu Agu to his family.
If and where the DSS and Nigerian government have any grievance or gripe against him, the proper avenue available to them is through the legal process. This is the time to release the popular Nollywood actor unconditionally so that he can return to his family and loved ones.
Once again, it is worthy to note here for the records that Chief Chiwetalu Agu has underlying medical conditions, as mentioned in details above, that require daily monitoring and medication administration. His continued detention will undoubtedly worsen his health conditions. So, we are calling for his release now before his health deteriorates.
We are also calling on His Excellencies, the Governors of different states in Nigeria, to kindly intervene in this matter with urgency to effect Chief Chiwetalu Agu’s release. We pray that they use their good offices to achieve his immediate release. Let us remember that whatever power that God has bestowed on us today, he watches how judiciously we use it, especially on those that are handicapped. God is watching. Moreover, no condition is permanent, but the legacies we leave behind last forever.
We will like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all our people and all other people of goodwill for rallying behind us and the honorable actor at this critical time. Thank you for your phone calls, your prayers and words of encouragement. We truly appreciate you all and wish you God’s many blessings.
Chiwetalu Agu’s Family Members.
Joy Agu Aneke Amara Onye Obianuju Cynthia Raphael Chizoba Enekwechi Offor Chima Onyia Chigozie Onyia Chizzy Efobi Ife-dimples Nta Tibbles De Mega Tibbs Tony Umeano Ekene Coolwater Ifejieme Ijeoma Dim Nwankwo Chinyere Egeonu Okoro Nkem Egede-Ojomo Arikeade Olasunkanmi Alexandra Oluchi Nebo Ngozika Rosemary Golden Roseline Chukwu Emily Okibe Echebi Emily Chukwu Uche A Ude-ekwunife Uchy Okwor Nkiru Edokwe Oby Clara Igbo Alanazunwa Nnabuike Igbo Duchess Joy Michael Anisidike Lynda Olerum-obi Evangel Anokam Eze Sunny Patrick Udeh LoLo Maduka LoLo Ngozi Umeh Igboaka QueenEsther Njideka Onoh Chikel Obayi Ral Etolue Jennifer Jenny Dunoboh Jennifer Ugwu Jennifer Ijeoma Igwegbu Ugwuozor Barrister Sophia Ugwu Emmanuel Ozoeneh Emmanuel Obiesie Chii Akporji Nnamdi Agama Lizar Nwasinoke Ihejirika Eze Emeka Lucky Chijioke Gbulie Clancy Omo John Nnubia Johnchinedu Anthony Emeka Okoko Tiana Obinwa
