Police hunt killers of 13 in Anambra community

Anambra map

The Anambra State Police Command has launched an investigation into the killing of no fewer than 13 persons – allegedly Ebonyi State indigenes – by yet-to-be-identified assailants in Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the armed hoodlums stormed the area late on Monday in two Sport Utility Vehicles and unprovokedly attacked the people, who were holding their monthly general meeting, while also shooting indiscriminately into the air.

The development, it was also gathered, has created panic in the community bringing both economic and commercial activities to a standstill, with residents and community leaders confused.

The incident was brought to the public attention by the President of Association of Non-Indigenes in Anambra State, Prince Chigozie Nweke, in a statement he shared with journalists on Tuesday.

Although members of the community said 13 persons were killed during the attack, police sources, however, confirmed 10 were killed.

Nweke, who said non-indigenes, believed to hail from Ebonyi State, were mostly the victims of the attack, urged the state government and relevant authorities to intensify their investigation.

He said, “It was a tragic and horrifying Monday evening for members of the Ogboji community, particularly non-indigenes residing in the area as gunmen stormed a meeting venue in the area and brutally murdered about 13 persons.

“The attack, which occurred between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, left the affected families in mourning. We bring to the attention of the Anambra State Government the killing of these persons, mostly indigenes of Ebonyi State at Ogboji in Orumba South Local Government Area by yet to be identified gunmen.”

Nweke also appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, and urged him to mobilise the command’s personnel to hunt down the culprits.