Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
It was a tragic incident in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area, Anambra State, as gunmen struck killing about 13 Ebonyi indigenes in the process.
Members of the Ebonyi community residing in Ogboji were reportedly holding their monthly meeting when the hoodlums struck around 7:00 p.m on Monday, leaving the affected families and the larger Ebonyi State in mourning.
A press release signed by the President of the Association of Non-indigenes in Anambra State, ANIAS, Prince Chigozie Nweke, condemned the heinous act and urged the Anambra State Government to take swift action to ensure justice is served.
“We bring to the attention of the Anambra State Government the killing of thirteen indigenes of Ebonyi State at Ogboji in Orumba South Local Government Area by yet to be identified gunmen. While we commiserate with the bereaved families and the people of Ebonyi State, we respectfully call on His Excellency, Governor Charles Soludo, to deploy all state resources to investigate both the immediate and remote causes of this tragedy. Justice must prevail,” Nweke stated.
He further emphasized the need for the government to assert its authority and utilize all security networks to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of what he termed a “dastardly act.”
“If swift and decisive action is not taken, this could undermine the peace and stability that Governor Soludo’s administration has worked so hard to achieve over the past three years,” he added.
Prince Nweke also appealed to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, expressing confidence in his leadership and crime-fighting efforts, and urging him to mobilize the Command’s personnel to hunt down the culprits.
“We trust CP Orutugu’s capacity to combat criminality. We therefore call on him to ensure that no stone is left unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” he said.
Nweke reiterated ANIAS’s commitment to maintaining peace and promoting security in Anambra State, noting that the association has been collaborating with the President-Generals of all 179 communities in the state.
However, Ikengaonline learned that two survivors are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in the area.
