Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
In the wake of the chilling massacre of Ebonyi State indigenes in Ogboji, Anambra State, a survivor has come forward with a harrowing account of how gunmen stormed a peaceful community meeting and opened fire, killing at least eleven people and injuring several others.
Mr. Onuoha Godwin, a member of the Ebonyi State Welfare Association in Ogboji, was present at the ill-fated meeting and lived to tell the tale—though not without grave injuries and deep emotional scars.
Speaking from his hospital bed, where he is currently receiving treatment for multiple gunshot wounds to his hand and stomach, Godwin recounted the terrifying ordeal.
A video of his statement has gone viral on social media and was seen by our reporter.
Speaking in his local dialect, Godwin who said he is from Inyimagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, said the gunmen stormed the venue of their monthly meeting with intent to kill.
“We used to have our meeting two times in a month. That day was our general meeting of Ebonyi State Welfare Association in Ogboji,” he said in a faint but steady voice.
“Towards evening time when we were about closing the meeting, some people carrying guns came in. We thought they were policemen that came for mass arrests. We didn’t know they were on a mission to kill us.”
What followed, he said, was a nightmare.
“The first thing they asked was, ‘Who is Augustine Odogwu?’ Then they ordered everybody to lie down,” Godwin recalled.
Augustine Odogwu, the Chairman of the Ogboji branch of the Association, appeared to be their main target.
“They dragged me up and asked me what meeting we were doing. I told them it was the general meeting of Ebonyi indigenes. They said we were kicking against them and then they shot me,” he said.
The attackers, he said, fired several shots into the air and threatened to kill everyone if Augustine wasn’t identified.
“They came to me again and asked me to show them Augustine or they would kill me. I pointed at him. They brought him out and shot him right there. Then they shot me again.”
He said what followed was mass carnage as the gunmen began firing indiscriminately at other members of the Association, killing about eleven people on the spot and leaving several others injured.
The death toll is said to have risen to 13 as a few others reportedly died at the hospital.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage and strong calls for justice, with the Ebonyi State Government and civil society groups demanding a swift and thorough investigation.
