By News Punch
Contrary to the avalanche of claims, a repentant drug peddler and an indigene of Ozulubu who identified himself as Chinedu, formerly based in South Africa, said that no fewer than 70 indigenes of the community were into drug business in South Africa. He said the kingpin who introduced them to the trade was a known son of the community. The same man, he said had brought many people into the trade.
He described the business as the survival of the fittest ruled by greed. He said in the tricky trade, one man could be king of all and would do anything to remain on top including setting others up, taking over their goods and even killing to take over their parcel.
Chinedu who is now in the community undertaking a transport business said: “I went to South Africa to join in the drug trade. But after some months I was arrested by the police while I was going to deliver a ‘business parcel’ aka drug to a customer. So I was jailed four months, after which I returned home because I could not continue with the business despite the fact that there is money in it. But there is so much envy and greed in it too.
“In South Africa, the big boys in the business don’t want the younger ones to grow. I came back because I was afraid that even if I made the money, I might not live to enjoy it. This is because they have killed lots of our people in the business over there due to one misunderstanding or the other. So, what you see happened here is a fight back by those who have been cheated.”
He said the story of the man from Mbaise in Imo State, who was killed over drug business was absolutely true. “He was a boy to one of our kingpins and was killed for business reasons. But I learnt that the issue was later settled in the community before now. The Mbaise group was handsomely ‘settled.’
“But this recent killing inside the church was strange. But for all I know, there are some people all the way from South Africa who are not happy with ‘some of our big boys here. That is certain.”
The man, Aloysius Ikegwuonu aka Bishop
The man Aloysius Ikegwuonu (Ebubechukwuzo Ozubulu) turned 36 recently having been born in 1981. It was a feat that was celebrated with pomp and ceremony. Aloysius Ikegwuonu is the son of late Alphonsus Ikegwuonu who was killed in last Sunday’s shooting at St Philips Catholic Church, Amakwu, Ozubulu. His mother was said to have died about ten years ago. And now with the exit of his father, he has come to wear the toga of a full-fledged orphan. According to his Ozubulu kinsmen, he would have been a Reverend Father but for his poor family background. He was said to have gained admission into the junior Seminary School at Nkpor, in Idemili Local Government Area of the State but had to withdraw halfway and proceeded to Comprehensive Secondary School, Egbema Ozubulu, C.S.S. which was formerly called College of Basic Studies, (C.B.S.), a school founded by a certain Reverend Father Nwabaju Izuchi, living in the United States. He graduated about 1999/2000, and it was obvious that his father, would not be able to afford the financial requirement needed to progress in the seminary and achieve his ambition of becoming a priest. It was learnt that Bishop was very close to his late mother that he often helped her in her petty trade at Orie Akpu market, near Ugwu Orie Bus Stop, Amakwa Ozubulu.
In his growing up days, he was mostly called ‘Aloyee’ which comes down to stretching the short form of his name Aloy. But when he began to make money and name, he adopted the name Bishop, a moniker that has simply stuck.
He grew up like every other child, in his native Amakwu village, Ozubulu expectedly remaining anomalous although with a promise that he might be popular in the years ahead. Primary school over, he was admitted into Comprehensive Secondary School, C.S.S. which was formerly called College of Basic Studies, C.B.S.) Egbema Ozubulu, a school founded by a certain Reverend Father Nwabaju Izuchi, living in the United States. In his final year in 1999, he was made a senior prefect, an appointment that led the leadership qualities in him to blossom. However, he was said to have graduated from the school in the year 2000. His sudden wealth shortly after travelling to South Africa in 2001 and his philanthropic activities took many by surprise but the people could not ask questions as the gestures were allegedly coming alongside threat to lives.
In Ozubulu, the situation after the attack at St. Phillips Catholic Church, which he built, has become suspicious as the people seem to have been instructed not to talk about the Bishop and if they do, they would only talk about the roads and churches he built. Soon after his graduation, he signaled his intention to go into business. Soon he got contacts and was apprenticed to a business owner as the case may be. Soon after, he travelled to South Africa to prospect for opportunities. While there, he struck gold. And when he returned home in the months that followed, it was clear that he had become a man of means. It wasn’t long before his friends and other lads most of whom were indigenes of Ozubulu flocked to him seeking assistance on how to fish. Not too long after, Bishop was said to have forayed into other businesses including real estate, with his firm spreading its tentacles into Abuja, Lagos and South Africa. Those who know him too well say he is shrewd and astute in his business.
At the moment, he is said to have pursued a career in philanthropy using a foundation, which he set up as a formidable platform. And so far, he had built and donated three churches in his native Ozubulu, renovated schools, donated to charity and assisted many youths in his community to gain better life. And since then, he has maintained a steady climb up the social ladder.
He is said to be married and has children who are living outside the country contrary to speculations that they were killed sometime ago.
Read Full report from Daily Sun
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