By Ikeugonna Eleke
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has approved fifteen million Naira for Ogwuaniocha Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State in support of the mass burial of the forty-three indigenes of the community who lost their lives during the internal crisis that rocked the community in November 2021.
Presenting the cheque on behalf of the Governor to the President General of Ogwuaniocha Progressive Association, Hon Vitalis Ekweanua; in company of other stakeholders from the community in his office on Thursday, the State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barr Anthony Ifeanya, applauded the community for doing the needful and paving the way for peace to thrive.
Barrister Ifeanya, who announced Governor Soludo’s willingness to visit the community with developmental projects, vowed that Ogwuaniocha must get everything that was due to them as host community under his watch.
Receiving the cheque, the President General, Hon Ekweanua, disclosed that in their quest to achieve all the activities mapped out to restore lasting peace, they sourced funds and held the mass burial for the forty-three deceased members on 20th April, 2025 and greatly appreciated Governor Soludo for his gesture.
Ekweanua however lamented that despite the state government’s efforts, the community still remained deserted.
He described the 15 million Naira support as a welcome development, but noted that the community was asking for more government presence in infrastructural development.
‘Ogwuaniocha Community is completely deserted. Nothing good is happening here. Our children no longer go to school because the entire schools in the community, primary and secondary Schools, were all destroyed due to the communal crisis.
‘As I speak to you, about 90 percent of houses, including my house, as the President General of the town, were also destroyed beyond repair.
‘Our healthcare facilities are also affected. Nothing good is happening here. We are currently helpless. We seriously need our Solution Governor to urgently intervene.
‘The company drilling oil in our community is also our major challenge. Ever since they commenced operation in the area, we stopped farming and fishing due to the oil spilling and no compensation has been given to us.
‘For the past three years, we have been living in fear, pain and hunger as a result of the crisis. Our kidnapped Traditional Ruler has remained missing since the crisis broke out in November 2021 under the immediate past administration of Governor Willie Obiano.
‘We are appealing to Governor Soludo to extend more of his kind-hearted agenda for Ndi-Anambra to our community by reconstructing the affected facilities and also build us a bridge at Ulasi River that will link Umunankwo to Ihiala Local Government Area of the State. And, with this, I believe the community will regain her lost glory.
‘Soludo, being a godsend Governor to Anambra, we will support him with 100/100 votes to ensure that he emerges victorious in the November 8, 2025 Governorship Election in the state,’ Ekweanua assured.
