How Aguleri Youths Allegedly Kidnapped 92-Year-Old Man from Umuoba, Burnt His House

By Our Reporter

A 92-year-old man, Ogbuevi Okaa Peter Nneli, Ukaatu, reportedly escaped death after he was allegedly abducted from his residence in the Ogbe Awusa area near Amaeze Aguleri at the wake of October 1, 2026, amid the escalating communal crisis between Umuoba Anam and Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Nneli, popularly known as Okaa Umebe, was reportedly at home with his 78-year-old wife, Ucheoba, when group of boys heavily armed started banging their door and breaking window glasses and at that moment of not knowing of any tension, opened their door,while thy couldn’t fled the area for safety, the couple reportedly remained behind because of their advanced age and the woman’s hip injury.

According to the family, the couldn’t neither escape due to the mamount youths that had invaded the house. However, the situation allegedly escalated when gunshots were heard, sending residents to scamper for safety, meanwhile this aged couple were trapped in the house and moreover the youths of Aguleri had rounded up their house,while begging them to spare their lives.

At this point they youths dragged the old man down from the bed and took him away, while the wife cried for help and while limping she fell into the gutter sustained more hip injury. At this point the Aguleri youths had increased their manhunt and burning of more houses owned by Umuoba Anam indigenes.

Hon. Cliff Ike Nneli, the first son of the elderly man, described the night as one of the most frightening experiences for the family.

“It was a scary night for us when all efforts to locate our father proved abortive. When we couldn’t find him anywhere in our community, we started making frantic calls and checking neighbouring areas to establish what had happened to him.”

He said the family eventually received information that his father had been taken away and was being held at an undisclosed location.

The family also later found the elderly man’s wife after she reportedly fell while trying to escape. She was said to have sustained injuries and was subsequently placed under medical care.

According to sources cited by the family, negotiations eventually led to the release of two youths from Aguleri, after which the elderly man was reportedly released and moved in the opposite direction.

The circumstances surrounding his alleged abduction and subsequent release could not be independently verified.

Elderly couple allegedly ose home to fire

Beyond the reported abduction, the couple were left homeless after their house was allegedly set ablaze during the violence.

A family member, Romanus Udekwe Okue-Agbomma, said the couple had legitimately acquired their portion of the disputed land and were not involved in the communal disagreement. He described them as innocent victims of a conflict that had nothing to do with them.

According to him, this was not the first time the couple’s home had been destroyed in connection with communal violence.

He said the couple’s children had previously contributed resources to rebuild the house after an earlier incident, without receiving compensation from the government or any other institution.

The family had hoped the reconstruction would allow their elderly parents to live out their remaining years peacefully.

That hope, he said, was shattered when the house was allegedly burnt again during the latest violence.

Decades of belongings destroyed

The family said virtually all the couple’s belongings were destroyed in the fire, including clothing, household items and personal possessions accumulated over several decades. They reportedly escaped with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing.

Mrs Ucheoba was also said to have suffered injuries after falling during the confusion surrounding the violence.

The family said the incident has left the elderly couple traumatised and facing the immediate challenge of finding shelter and rebuilding their lives.

Okue-Agbomma said the situation was particularly painful given the couple’s advanced age.

“After spending more than nine decades on earth, raising a family and contributing to society, Ogbuevi Okaa Nneli should be enjoying peace, comfort and dignity that old age ought to bring—not wondering where he and his wife will sleep or how they can begin again.”

Family seeks government intervention

The family has appealed to the Anambra State Government to assist victims of the violence, particularly residents whose homes and property were destroyed despite having no involvement in the dispute.

The appeal includes emergency shelter, relief materials and, where appropriate, compensation or other assistance for affected families.

Okue-Agbomma also called on the government and security agencies to thoroughly investigate the violence and prosecute anyone found responsible for attacks, destruction of property or other criminal acts.

He stressed that the underlying dispute should ultimately be addressed through dialogue, reconciliation and lawful processes.

“Let humanity prevail. Let the parties embrace dialogue, reconciliation, peaceful dispute resolution and lawful processes,” he said.

He added that legitimate land claims should be determined through appropriate legal and traditional mechanisms while security agencies protect innocent residents and prevent further attacks.

‘No land dispute is worth this’

For the family, the ordeal of the elderly couple represents the devastating human cost of communal conflicts.

Okue-Agbomma said disagreements over land should never result in the destruction of homes and livelihoods or expose elderly and uninvolved residents to danger.

“No piece of land is worth the homelessness and trauma of an elderly couple. No boundary dispute is worth destroying the home, possessions and peace of people who had no part in the dispute.”

The incident comes amid ongoing efforts by the Anambra State Government and security agencies to restore peace and establish the circumstances surrounding the violence between the affected communities.

The family said it hopes government intervention will bring lasting peace, accountability and support for victims, while ensuring that the elderly couple and other affected residents can return to a life of safety and dignity.

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