Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Enohia Itim Town Union has alleged that those who lynched one Uromchi Okorocha in the community were outsiders and not indigenes of the community.
The Town Union stated this in a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesperson, Collins Azu.
The Union condemned the lynching of the victim who is from the community on allegations of witchcraft and called for proper investigation.
It alleged that the killers were outsiders who capitalises on the victims disagreement with his kinsmen to kill him.
Background
The Union was reacting to reports in the media of the incident which happened on the 3rd of January 2025.
A statement by the Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that 17 persons from the community have been apprehended for the murder of the late Okorocha.
Mr Adejobi said the victim was lynched and burnt to death by assailants who accused him of using witchcraft to perpetrate evil in the community.
Community not responsible for victims death -Town Union claims
But the Town Union spokesperson exonerated the community from the death of Mr Urom Okorocha.
“The attention of Enohia Itim Community, Afikpo Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria has been drawn to disturbing allegations circulating in some quarters, suggesting that members of our community were responsible for the horrific act of burning a kinsman alive,” the statement said.
Mr Azu described as disturbing and damaging, false reports in the social media on the incident.
He claimed that some social media commentators have resorted to falsehood against the community in an attempt to generate reader and viewer traffic.
“In a news link shared across multiple platforms which has gone viral, the writer painted a graphic impression portraying that the community held an emergency meeting where they agreed, resolved and collectively undertook to lynch a kinsman, Essa Urom Okorocha over suspected witchcraft case.
“This is extremely damaging as it casts Enohia Itim in a primitive lense practically alluding to the Hobbesian utopian state where life, in the thinking of the English Political Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, “is short, brutish and anarchic.”
“We wish to categorically refute and disassociate our community from such barbaric and inhumane behavior,” Mr Azu said.
According to him, after thorough investigation and consultations with leaders, eyewitnesses, and stakeholders, it was made clear that the alleged incident was not a collective decision of the community.
He noted that none of the traditional governing arms in the community namely, Enohia Itim Town Union, Essa and Eto Traditional Ruling Council or any other arms charged with enforcing social discipline and order, had anything to do with the incident.
The Union however admitted that the late Mr Okorocha was a native of the Community and was lynched in the same Community.
How outsiders killed victim
The Town Union alleged that the killers of the Late Mr Okorocha were outsiders from a neighbouring community where he resides who trailed and killed him within the community over a disagreement he had with them.
“Enohia Itim is a littoral Community bound by Cross River on the South.
“Following the sacking of Ebijakara by Ebom —communities in Abi LGA, Cross River State, in June 21, 2006 and the 2020, 2021, communal hostilities among the Urugbam, Ipene and other communities in Biase LGA Cross River State, the population of Enohia Itim quadrupled, a reason 10 if not 20 percent of the Community comprised members from our neighbouring communities who leveraged the peace and social camaraderie offered by our people.
“Contrary to the angles purveyed by social media contractors —it has also come to our knowledge that the victim, Essa Urom Okorocha, who resided as a fisherman in a neighboring area, was said to have incurred the ire of his traducers who in the cause of the festive season trailed him to his Enohia Itim Community and leveraged the misunderstanding between him and his kinsmen to lynch him.
“On sensing dangers, it is reported by local sources that these assailants escaped through the apian tracks and swam across the shore.”
Call for proper investigation
“As a peace-loving and law-abiding community, we strongly condemn such an act in its entirety and affirm that it is neither part of our culture nor our values to engage in violence or inhuman treatment of any person.
“Enohia Itim deeply sympathise with the family and loved ones of the victim and pray for their comfort during this challenging time,” he said.
The spokesperson, however, emphasised that the community should not be unjustly vilified or implicated in the tragedy.
He appealed to law enforcement agencies to intensify their investigation to uncover the true perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to justice.
“We also urge the general public to refrain from spreading unverified claims or fueling unnecessary tension.
“Enohia Itim community remains committed to fostering peace, unity, and cooperation with all neighboring communities.
“Enohia Itim will continue to support the authorities in ensuring that the truth prevails and justice is served,” he added.
