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The charred remnants of what was once a beautiful family home still stand at Umuneke Obazu Mbieri, a painful reminder of a night that utterly ruined the expectations of Ike Austin Chinenye and his wife.
It has been 18 months since a thunderous explosion reduced their newly built house to rubble on January 12, 2025.
The young couple had spent their entire savings on developing the property, today, they are left devastated, traumatized, and without any form of compensation from the government, despite multiple promises and admission that the bombing was a mistake by top security officials.
THE FATEFUL NIGHT
Austin, 41, from Ibiasoegbe in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State, recounts the morning of January 12, 2025, with vivid pain.
“I woke up around 6:30 to 7:00 am and received a call from Mr. Chimezie, who had installed the borehole in the house. He told me there had been a bomb blast around the area and that my house was completely destroyed,” Austin narrates.
“I never took him seriously because my wife and I had left the site on the evening of Saturday, January 11. I thought it was a prank until the second caller came through.”
Mrs. Ngozi, the supplier of sands and stones used in the house from foundation to completion, delivered the same devastating news.
Austin and his wife then rushed to the scene and what they saw was shocking and beyond their wildest imagination.
“When we got there, we saw multitudes of people. Several members of the neighborhood told us they saw a drone, some said a fighter jet hovering around the area minutes before they heard a thunderous blast at about 12:30 to 1:00 am after midnight,” he says.
The explosion affected nearby houses and even those in distant areas, leaving the community shaken and alarmed.
THE POLICE ORDEAL
What followed was a nightmare that added to the trauma.
Austin rushed to the State Police Headquarters to report the incident, hoping for swift action. Instead, he met what he described as a “pay-to-play” system of justice.
“At the control room of the State CID, the officers told me I had to pay ₦40,000 before they would take action. I had no choice because I was in desperate and devastated. I had to get the money from a POS and handed it over because they refused to accept transfers,” he recounts.
The officers then directed him to a squad that would go to the scene for verification. But that came with another demand.
“The squad insisted I give them ₦150,000. I told them I had no money. They insisted. I pleaded down to ₦100,000, which they accepted. I had to pull the cash from a POS again,” Austin says, the total he paid that Sunday morning was ₦140,000.
The officers came to the site, walked around the scene, took pictures, made videos, and vanished.
DETAINED WITHOUT CAUSE
The ordeal continued when the DPO in charge of Mbieri Police Division, Ben West, arrived at the scene and informed Austin that the Commissioner of Police wanted to see him.
Instead of being taken to the Commissioner’s office, Austin and his wife were driven to Tiger Base, a police facility in Owerri. At the gate, their phones were confiscated.
“We met the commander of Tiger Base, ACP Oladimeji Oyeyiwa. He asked where I came from. When I said Ibiasoegbe, he said, ‘Your village is bad.’ I told him that there are bad people everywhere, and also very good people, that he shouldn’t judge me because of others,” Austin recalls.
ACP Oladimeji Oyeyiwa then instructed his second-in-command to keep Austin and his wife behind the counter. They remained there from about 11:20 am to 5:00 pm, with the commander nowhere to be found.
“We became furious and started shouting, asking the junior officers to call the commander. He told them we should wait because they were doing investigation,” Austin says.
At around 9:00 pm, ACP Oladimeji Oyeyiwa finally appeared. He released their phones and told them they were free to go.
“He told me that if I go home, I should go and thank my God that I and my family are alive and safe. He said they had carried out investigation and found nothing against me, that he had never met me before but swore an oath behind me that I am innocent,” Austin recounts.
They were however given pen and paper to write how they got the information about the incident and were told to go home, with a promise that authorities would send them a message. They are still waiting for that message till date.
OFFICIAL ADMISSIONS OF “MISTAKE”
When no communication came from authorities, Austin, through a childhood friend, reached out to journalist Chidiebube Okeoma, who on
January 20, 2025, took Austin to meet the then Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma.
“The commissioner asked, ‘Are you Mr. Austin?’ I said yes. He shook his head and sympathized with me and my wife, telling us to first thank God for life. He then said the blast was a mistake,” Austin reveals.
The Commissioner advised Austin to meet the Government House’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Hope Uzodimma, ACP Shabba Adamu, or Prince Marcon Nlemigbo, the APC political leader in charge of Mbaitoli LGA where the blast happened. The CP allegedly described Nlemigbo as one who has access to the Governor and also claimed that when Governor Uzodimma heard about the blast, he was “very angry” and would most pay compensation if the damage is formally brought to his notice.
Following this guidance, Austin and his wife spent sought, found and finally met the CSO, who sympathized with them and promised to speak with the Governor. They also met Prince Marcon Nlemigbo, who made similar promise.
Since then, the CSO has stopped picking their calls, offering appointments that never hold.
THE INVESTIGATIVE IMPASSE
Austin has since written petitions to the Imo State Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), and Governor Hope Uzodimma himself. All were acknowledged, but action remains elusive.
The DSS promised to investigate but never did.
The police assigned an investigator named Officer Dalsatt, who delivered now familiar revelation.
“Officer Dalsatt confidently told us it was pure airstrike,” Austin says. “He advised us to look for those close to the Governor to take us to him for compensation. He also said the police has finished their investigation but can’t do more.”
A PROMISE UNKEPT
Austin’s wife received a call from one Chief Joseph Ogbonna, who introduced himself as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security. He invited the couple to the Government House.
“When we got there, he said the petition I wrote to the SSG was minuted to him,” Austin recalls. “He asked how I knew it was a bomb blast. I explained how I received calls that Sunday morning and the testimonies of the members of the neighborhood and spectators.”
Chief Joseph Ogbonna requested that Austin bring neighbors to testify. Austin returned to Umuneke Obazu Mbieri and, despite the fear and trauma, convinced some neighbors to accompany him to the Government House to testify.
“The following day, I took them to the office of the SA at the Government House. He was surprised that I could get some of the neighborhood who willingly followed me to testify,” Austin said.
After the face-to-face interview, Austin waited for the security report for 3-4 months. When he called Chief Joseph Ogbonna to ask for the report, he was told it had been sent to the SSG’s office.
Rushing to the SSG’s office, Austin was met with denial – they claimed no report had been received.
“When I called Chief Joseph Ogbonna back, he quickly cut the call when he realized I was the one calling,” Austin reveals. “Since then till date, they may have deliberately chosen to silence and withhold the Security Report required for me to get justice.”
A FAMILY’S DESPAIR
For Austin and his wife, the past 18 months have been a period of unimaginable trauma.
“I have waited for one year and six months to see if they will be bold and humane enough to rebuild my house that was – according to the then Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma – mistakenly bombed and destroyed, but to no avail,” Austin said, his voice heavy with emotion.
“My wife and I are devastated, traumatized. All our years of hard work to get a roof over our heads were shattered because of this devilish act.”
Turning to our reporter, he said,
“The Media is the last hope of the common man. If I am denied the opportunity to get justice, it’s as good as rendering me lifeless,” he pleads.
Since a Commissioner of Police admitted it was a mistake, and even the CSO to the Governor admitted the same, Austin questions why his efforts to get justice are being deliberately derailed.
“They refused to give me the police Report which will aid me in getting justice in court. They also advised me not to go to court,” he laments. “What then is my fate as a common citizen? It is their responsibility to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all citizens, but they apparently resolved not to help me get justice. Why?”
LAST LINE
The attendant back and forth with the authorities and ruins of Austin’s home stand as vivid reflection of a system that has failed a hardworking family. The government that admitted a mistake has chosen silence over restitution.
As the 18th month goes by, Austin and his wife continue to hope and to wait for the so far elusive gesture of humanity and justice from the authorities.
