By Jude Atupulazi and Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
It was a black Monday in Enugwu Ukwu Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, when three of their sons were allegedly killed by people from the neighbouring town of Nawfia, also from Njikoka LGA, over a disputed land. The fourth person was said to be from Agu Ukwu Nri in Anaocha LGA of the state.
Fides gathered that the young men from Enugwu Ukwu had been invited to come to the disputed land for talks when on getting there, some people in the bush ordered them to lie down. In the process, shots were fired, with four people killed, with some others escaping, some with bullet wounds.
One of the notable Indigenes of Enugwu-Ukwu, Chief Uche Nworah, who took to his Facebook page to announce the incident, said the leaders of the community had called on the Anambra State Government to urgently investigate the killing of some of its indigenes by men allegedly sponsored by unknown individuals from Nawfia, a neighbouring community, also in Njikoka.
His words, ‘Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba, Nigeria’s immediate past Ambassador to Burundi and a cabinet member in the community, said that the whole town is in shock and mourning over the brutal violence meted out to some of their kinsmen.
‘It was in the afternoon of Monday, 9th September, 2024, that news went round the community of the killing of some of our brothers. It was reported that the men were lured via phone calls to Agu Isionye Land belonging to Enugwu-Ukwu and were each executed, gangland style. Enugwu-Ukwu is currently deliberating on this. Our President-General has already informed the state government. The police authorities at Zone 13, Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government, have also been informed. Urgent action is required to avert escalation of the crisis.’
A youth leader in the community, Emeka Okonkwo, said that Nawfia People in doing this, had thrown away what he called their Umunri brotherhood bond. ‘How can supposed brothers kill one another? This is an abomination. Some of the survivors with bullet wounds are being conveyed to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, as we speak. Do you think that we will forget this easily?’ Okonkwo asked.
Another youth from Enugwu-Ukwu, Boniface Okafor, said that Enugwu-Ukwu youths were meeting to discuss their next line of action. ‘We will not take the law into our hands but we expect that the government and police should urgently engage with the two communities. Those that committed these atrocities should be punished and the necessary traditional sacrifices made,’ he said.
A viral voice note from a supposed Nawfia indigene wondered why the ugly occurrences of Monday, 9th September, 2024, were not being shared on major Nawfia WhatsApp platforms. He wondered if that signified general support by Nawfia Community for the gruesome murders of their Umunri kinsmen. He cautioned members of the community to be vigilant as he feared a reprisal and asked those who could to leave the community to immediately do so.
Last Tuesday youths of both Enugwu Ukwu and Nawfia Communities blocked their sections of the old Awka-Onitsha Road and littered the road with burning tyres. It took the timely arrival of the police who put out the tyres to douse tension and allow traffic to flow.
Fides also gathered that same day, some youths of Agu Ukwu Nri, whose kinsman was also killed, mobilized and came up to Ring Road, Enugwu-Ukwu to join their Enugwu Ukwu counterparts.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, was said to have visited the scene of carnage on Monday.