By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Secretary General of Okija Progressive Union, OPU, Barrister Peter Awa, and one other person, Izuchukwu Igwenagha, popularly known as Onwa, were last Sunday, May 19, murdered in the town by gunmen.
While Awa, who is also the Chancellor of the Knights of St Mulumba, Okija Sub Council, was killed in a market square in his Umudioka Village, Izuchukwu Igwenagha was murdered over alleged land dispute in his Isieke Village.
Also, the same day, a business man at Nkwo Okija was kidnaped, as he drove home from a function.
Before the latest incident, Okija was the only community in Ihiala Local Government Area that enjoyed security and neighbouring communities were coming to conduct burials and weddings in the town because the leadership of the town put in place a security outfit that worked.
Barrister Awa was appointed Secretary of Okija last year following a town union election conducted by the Anambra State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters.
Until the incident, he was practicing law in Ihiala. Only recently, there was an attempt to kidnap his wife, also a lawyer, at Ihiala, but the attempt failed.
It was gathered that he attended a village meeting few hours before his gruesome murder.
Some people, who it was believed he was familiar with, had stopped him at Eke Market in his Umudioka Village and eye witnesses said there appeared to be a discussion between them, only for gunshots to be heard a few minutes later.
The occupants of the car immediately drove off after firing several bullets at him. He was confirmed dead later.
For Onwa, his murder was said to be connected with a protracted land dispute in his village. Onwa was said to be a key player in Umuezeulasi Land Matters and he was shot dead in his house.
Barrister Mike Ozulumba, an American based attorney, said the community was in real tough times.
‘Okija has within 24 hours recorded two painful gruesome murders. While mourning the assassination of Onwa in a suspected land dispute, we received the shocking news of OPU Secretary, Barr Awah’s assassination at his village in Umuohi Okija tonight.
‘While reeling from this painful news, a kidnap gang struck at pipeline tonight and the details are still sketchy. We are in real tough times,’ Ozulumba said.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incidents, with the spokesperson of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, saying the state Police Commissioner had charged men of the command to go after the killers.
