By Michael Nnebife
A group, Nimo Concerned Citizens for Good Governance, has called on the Government of Anambra State and the State Police Command to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of a High Chief of the town and member of the Igwe’s Cabinet, High Chief Engr Augustine Ezedinachi.
Ezedinachi, it will be recalled, was abducted at his farm in the village by gun totting masked men who had earlier tied his workers and then whisked him away when he entered the farm. Despite the payment of a ransom demand of N15m, the community was shocked by the discovery of the man’s body the next day, with his head and body badly mutilated.
Reacting to this development, Mr Paul Ifesinachi, spokesman of Nimo Concerned Citizens, is calling for a thorough investigation into the murder with a view to ensuring that justice is done.
In a press statement by the group signed by Ifesinachi, and made available to the press, the group said only the arrest and prosecution of those behind the killing would satisfy the family and the town.
The release read, ‘While the family and community grieve, we call on the state government and the police authorities to investigate this crime and bring those who were involved or sponsors of this heinous crime to face full justice.
‘The gruesome murder of Chief Engr Augustine Ezedinachi of Nimo, is one of the latest in the series of high profiles cases that ought to be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, if Anambra State is serious about fighting crime.
‘Chief Ezedinachi, an industrialist and farmer from Nimo, in Njikoka LGA, was abducted at his farm in Nimo as he arrived in the morning. His workers had been tied by his abductors prior to his arrival. Despite the fact that a huge ransom was paid, his body with badly mutilated skull, was found the next morning adjacent to a rear fence of his establishment.
‘Nimo has been engulfed in crisis for over a year now, especially after a court judgement sacking the de facto Town Union Executive. Prior to this incident, a lawyer from the community had alleged in a voice note that Chief Ezedinachi was to be announced the Chairman of a Caretaker Committee being established by the State Government as an interim measure to calm the heated community.
‘On the day the Caretaker Committee was to be announced, Chief Ezedinachi was abducted.
‘But the subsequent announcement by the State Government neither had Chief Ezedinachi as the Chairman nor member of the Caretaker Committee.
‘It is thus, not difficult to know why the perpetrators, who are likely sponsored, went ahead to not only abduct Chief Ezedinachi, but to murder him, even after the ransom requested was paid in US Dollars.
‘These sequence of events leading up to the abduction seriously suggests ties to the ongoing imbroglio within the Nimo Community, especially with the plethora of threats such as the voice notes and incitement by those who feel disappointed with the court sacking of the de facto Nimo Town Development Union Executive.’
