The serene atmosphere of Woji Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was disrupted last Saturday as youths in the community took to the streets in protest against the alleged gruesome killing of one Kenneth Eke, a youth of the community, by the police led by a police inspector attached to the Woji Police Division.
But the Eze Woji/Paramount Ruler of Woji community, Eze Emeka Ihunwo, has called for calm among residents and visitors as the community has brought the protest under control and is on top of the matter to ensure that justice is served on the alleged killers of the youth and their accomplices.
The Tide learnt that hundreds of youths of the community had gathered in the early hours of Saturday and took to the streets to protest against the death of their brother who was allegedly beaten to death by some policemen led by a police inspector attached to the Woji Divisional Police Station. The body of the deceased was also said to have been taken to an unknown destination by the killers to avoid detection by the community.
It was learnt that the late Kenneth was dragged to the police by his tenant over disagreements concerning rent. The police inspector, a friend to the tenant, called his colleagues in the police who joined him to go after the late landlord and beat him to death, and thereafter carted his body to an unknown destination.
The protesters who marched round the community called for the release of the remains of the deceased for burial.
The youths blocked some major roads in the community, disrupting free vehicular movement and shops from opening for fear of attacks by the youths. Passers-by also were also afraid to use the streets for fear of attacks from the angry protesters.
According to a community source, the deceased was a brother to former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Hon. Solomon Abel Eke.
The Tide, however, learnt that the leadership of the Community, led by the Paramount Ruler, Eze Emeka Ihunwo, later prevailed on the youths to call off the protest as the community was on top of the matter to ensure that justice is served on the alleged killers.
Speaking with newsmen at his palace, Eze Ihunwo described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable, but said the community would ensure that justice is done on the matter.
The traditional ruler also said that contrary to some reports in the social media, the protest in the community had nothing to do with clashes between rival cult groups as the entire leadership of Woji Community has zero-tolerance for cultism and that such a vice would never thrive in the community under his watch.
He disclosed that, through the efforts of the leadership of the community, both the police inspector and the tenant are being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for investigation.
Eze Ihunwo commended the Area Commander at Mini Okoro for handling the matter professionally and urged the people to go about their lawful businesses as the community is on the matter.
The Woji monarch also called for the release of the body of the deceased to the family for burial.
He described Woji as the most peaceful community in the State and attributed the calm in the community to the synergy among the various tiers of leadership of the community under the watch of Eze Woji-in-Council.
As at the time of filing this report, calm had been restored and all the road blocks had been removed while people were going about their lawful businesses.

By: John Bibor