#EndSARS Protest: Individuals Count Losses(See Videos)

***By Daniel-Scott OFONEME, Awka***

Anambra Rice CEO; Chief Akai Egwuonwu bemoans looting and vandalization of his warehouse/office building in Awka Anambra State.

The dust raised by the once peaceful #Endsars/#EndPoliceBrutality protests across the nation are beginning to settle but Government, Individuals and private Investments have started counting their losses. One of them is Anambra billionaire Industrialist and Chairman/CEO of Stine Group, High Chief Akai Egwuonwu (Ume-Ebube Agu) who’s factory produces Anambra Rice, Stine Rice, De Zara water, Gime Noodles and Diet Floating fish feed. Chief Akai is also the founder of First Petroleum Limited(Oil and Gas) and has massive investment in shipping.

Chief Akai Egwuonwu like his late mother Chief Mrs. Lucy Egwuonwu (Ezenwanyi) who at her time was the producer of the popular “Odiche Bread” believes in contributing to the growth of the country Nigeria, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs and means of livelihood for many despite the obvious difficulties of doing business in Nigeria.

But in the process of expressing dissatisfaction to the Nigerian Government, irate youths and hoodlums attacked one of their own…Chief Akai Egwuonwu, who himself is a young man and a victim of whatever frustration there is in the failure of Government at the Federal level. He is forced to spend heavily on diesel to power his giant generators to run his factory because of poor power supply and so many other issues many might want to complain about.

During the nation-wide lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of the novel corona virus, Chief Akai Egwuonwu dolled out millions to ensure feeding of the vulnerable everyday for weeks, he distributed thousands of bags of rice, noodles and cash to indigenes and the vulnerable as a means to support families during the period.

Few days ago, Over two thousand (2000) bags of rice were looted from his warehouse in Awka, hundreds of bags of cement being used for another warehouse beside the existing one and his entire office building completed vandalized, his office was left in shambles; furnitures, electronics everything except his pictures. Two private offices in the same building (a law firm) owned by Barr. Ifeanyi Ezegamba and another WOW office completely vandalized and all office equipments, electronics and furnitures stolen.

On getting the information, Chief Akai Egwuonwu restrained security agents from opening fire on the looters as he believes no life is worth wasting for material things and they were left to have a filled day. He has since left them for their conscience, law of nature and God to be judge while he begins repairs at the complex.

He is also using this opportunity to inform Nigerians, especially Ndi-Anambra, that Anambra Rice Mill is privately owned but bears Anambra Rice out of Patriotism to show the rice was made in Anambra and not owned by the Anambra State Government as many might think. His company just like many others in the State enjoys the business friendly environment created by the Willie Obiano administration and various business support platforms and patronage by the State Government just like other privately owned businesses in the State like Cosharis and Innoson.

He has urged the youths, especially those who attacked his facility to channel their grievances appropriately and not on private properties and individuals who themselves are victims of the State of affairs in the nation, condemning what he termed self destruction by youths who are supposed to protect all investments and businesses in the South-East as their contribution to the growth of the region especially after the wanton destruction of the region during the Biafra war between 1967-1970, promising to even invest more in the region and create jobs for our teeming youths who are known as hard-working people.

Hon. Daniel-Scott OFONEME, Reporting From Awka, Anambra State.