A Nigerian investor based in the U.S., Mrs. Onyinye Urum Ukaegbu Ibe, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over threats to burn down her multi-million naira piggery and cassava farm in Abiriba, Abia State.
Mrs. Ibe, originally from Abiriba but married in Imo State, claimed in her petition—filed by her lawyer, Obasi Awa—that these threats arose after the death of one of her farm workers.
According to her, rumours spread that the worker was murdered by his colleagues, an allegation she dismissed as false and malicious.
She called for a thorough police investigation to determine the actual cause of death and requested additional security to protect her farm from possible attacks.
The petition stated that the deceased employee, Joseph Urum, fell sick at work on February 24, 2025.
His colleagues rushed him to a hospital, where he underwent surgery but did not survive. Following his death, some of his relatives reported to the police, alleging he had been murdered by his co-workers.
This led to the arrest and investigation of several individuals, including Oko Ukaegbu, Pastor Ejemole Ukaegbu, Maduka, and Bassey.
Speaking to Vanguard from the U.S., Mrs. Ibe explained that she set up the farm to provide job opportunities for the community.
She revealed that Joseph was not only a recent employee, hired in January 2025, but also a close family member. He had reportedly been in conflict with the farm manager, who was also a relative.
She recounted that when she learned Joseph had been hospitalized in Umuahia due to stomach pain, she did everything possible to ensure he received proper medical care.
However, he sadly did not survive. She was later shocked to find false allegations circulating online, accusing her of attempting to harvest Joseph’s kidney for her son.
She strongly denied these claims, stating that both she and her son live in the U.S. She urged authorities to conduct an autopsy to determine the real cause of death, which she suspected was linked to an ulcer.
The traditional ruler of Abiriba, HRM Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu (Enachoken Abiriba), confirmed the incident, stating that the police were already investigating the matter.
He said that after hearing from both sides, the community leaders decided to involve law enforcement due to inconsistencies in the stories being told.
“I first learned about the situation through our community platform and immediately invited both parties to the palace. After discussions with all traditional rulers, we realized the allegations were serious and needed proper investigation,” the monarch explained.
He added that while some people in the community were angry and wanted to burn down the farm, the leaders intervened to prevent destruction. “We cannot allow such an act based on unverified claims. The police are handling the case, and we have taken steps to secure the farm. To prevent damage to livestock, we marked the farm with palm fronds, allowing minimal work while awaiting the investigation’s outcome,” he stated.
Meanwhile, efforts to get a statement from the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Moureen Chilaka, were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to calls or text messages at the time of reporting.
