By Ikeugonna Eleke
At least one person was on Friday, April 12, killed in Awka, Anambra State capital.
This brings to about 11, the number of persons that have been killed in the city since Easter Sunday, just three weeks ago.
About six persons were killed on Easter Sunday, while the following Sunday, three people were killed.
Also, there have been pockets of killings in the city within the following week, including the felling of one Nwanayoeze, who was said to be a popular youth among indigenes of the city. He was riddled with bullets close to his house in Awka on Tuesday, April 9.
On Thursday, a former president general of Amansea Community in Awka North Local Government Area, Chief Cajetan Nwokike, was killed.
Friday’s killing occurred at Unizik Junction, where a man identified as Christian was gunned down. He is said to be an indigene of Enugu State.
His assailants were said to have arrived in a yellow tricycle, which is the approved colour for all operators in Awka.
‘The man is a manager of Anambra Executive Transport Company. He was shot three times, and when the gunmen were sure he was dead, they entered their Keke and drove away very slowly, showing that they were not afraid of anything,’ a source said.
Though the incessant killings in Awka have been attributed to rivalry among cult groups, many who know Christian said he was not a cultist.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, he said he was not aware of the killing.
He complained that many family members of slain people did not report to the police for investigation, but preferred to bury their deceased relatives.
