Victor Ndoma-Egba, former senate leader, has appealed to the
people who broke into his house to return the robes of his late father who was
a judge.
Ndoma-Egba’s residence was among the property targeted during the unrest in Calabar, capital of Cross River, last week.
Ben Ayade, governor of the state, had imposed a 24-hour
curfew as part of measures to contain the situation but the mob broke loose.
In a statement, Ndoma-Egba narrated how he got intelligence
on the attack but despite informing security agencies, “nothing was done to
stop the attack”.
“At about 2 am (local time, as I was abroad) on Saturday
24th. October 2020 I received a text informing me that there were plans by
arranged hoodlums to attack my residence in Calabar, that of Senator Gershom
Bassey and a hotel owned by Senator John Owan Enor,” he said.
“I promptly forwarded the texts to Senators Bassey and Owan
Enoh. I also called the security agencies in Calabar to apprise them of the
information. Calabar from my information was already tense from the previous
day’s break-in into warehouses storing COVID 19 palliatives and the subsequent
breaching of shops and other businesses. The impending attack on Senators
Bassey, Owan Enoh and I was already public knowledge as later that morning I
got many calls to that effect.
“Thereafter I kept calling the security agencies by the hour
when in spite of their assurances that they will secure my house there was no
evidence of any security personnel in my vicinity. I understand, the times were
indeed confounding for everybody.
“At about 2 pm the intruders broke into my house and looted
it to the ground leaving only the bare floor. All the toilets, baths, pumps and
indeed every imaginable fitting were removed as were items of furniture,
clothing, a huge collection of mainly rare, out of print books, documents and
historic photographs. They also removed all the windows, railings, family
pictures and burglary proofs. Even my private chapel was not spared.
“They set the cars ablaze and parts of the building after
more than four hours of interrupted operations in my house. It was methodical.
Among the intruders were obviously electricians, plumbers, carpenters, motor
mechanics, panel beaters and other tradesmen. Mercifully, no life was lost. I
started building the house in 1991 and moved in in January, 2009.
“While not prejudging, and without prejudice to the work of
the security agencies, I have forgiven the intruders, and pray fervently for
them to find meaning, inner peace, and fulfilment in their lives. I only plead
that they return my late father’s judges robes which they certainly would not
be needed for anything and is surely incriminating.
“The destruction of my house was clearly premeditated,
wanton and unjustifiable but I understand the anger in the land especially
amongst our youths. However, if looting and burning my home will better their
lives and bring positive change to our land, then it is a sacrifice my family
and I gladly make.”
Ndoma-Egba said there is an urgent need to educate, motivate
and engage the youth if they must be a blessing to the country.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Senator as part of the @MBuhari led SARS State-Aided Robbery Squad I pray you turn a new leaf and start building a Nigeria that will respond to you in your hour of need. The security you called repeatedly couldn't help you because it was the type you helped to build. What goes round comes round even if one sympathises with you.
ReplyDelete