Dominic Ikpeama, the Ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ejemekwuru, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, has been arrested by the Oguta Divisional headquarters for allegedly selling federal government palliatives meant for his community.

The arrest followed a petition from the traditional ruler of Ejemekwuru, HRH Eze Hypolite Obinna Duru, who accused Ikpeama of selling 20 bags of corn and five bags of garri that were intended to alleviate the suffering of community members.

The monarch expressed his dismay over the actions of the APC Ward Chairman, stating that it was a deliberate attempt to undermine the efforts of both the Federal and State Governments. “The entire community is unhappy with this act of sabotage,” Eze Duru remarked, adding that he promptly alerted the police, leading to Ikpeama’s arrest on Wednesday, August 21.

Reacting to the allegations, Ikpeama denied being arrested and insisted that he was only invited by the police to discuss the matter. He explained that the palliatives were distributed among five of the 23 villages in the community due to the limited quantity available. However, the allegations against him have fueled anger within the community, with many believing that he used his former position in the Town Union Government to divert the palliatives for personal gain.

The issue of palliative diversion has been a recurring problem in many communities, where officials responsible for distributing aid often face accusations of corruption and selfishness.