By Jude Atupulazi
Persons suspected to be cultists on Tuesday evening killed a young man at Unizik Temporary Site Junction in Awka, Anambra State Capital. The latest development brought the number of people killed by suspected cultists in Awka since Easter Sunday to ten.
It was gathered that the latest victim whose name was given as Nwanayoeze was gunned down around the Tricycle Park, Unizik Junction.
He was suspected to be a cultist, and his death linked to the ongoing Cult War in Awka, which has claimed many young people, as rival cult groups target members of opposing groups.
On Easter Sunday, six persons were said to have been killed in the city as a result of cult related issues.
Also, a week after; last Sunday, three people were also gunned down in the city, with one pursued in the full glare of residents and gunned down near Eke Awka Market.
Last Tuesday evening’s killing has also been linked to the ongoing war. Sources said that immediately Nwanayoeze was gunned down, and his assailants fled, his cult members quickly took away his corpse to avoid security agencies confiscating it.
Traders around Unizik Junction confirmed that Nwanayoeze was a very prominent youth in the entire area who was feared by many people, as he also had capacity to make trouble. He was however never, suspected to be a cultist.
Police authorities in Anambra State could not confirm the incident, with the Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, only saying the Command was aware of unconfirmed news of the cult-related killing of a man popularly known as Nwanayoeze in Awka.
His words, ‘Our operatives were immediately drafted to the scene and there was no trace of such. Meanwhile, we are working with the residents of the area to ascertain what happened. Also, police patrol has been intensified in Awka.’
