By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Security Director of Nibo Community, who is also the Commander of the community’s vigilante and a survivor of the shooting incident in the town, have given accounts of what happened on Sunday in the town, that left about 12 persons dead.
The Security Director who simply identified himself as Wadada, said the men came into Nibo through Amawbia, while the community was holding its Ọnwa Asaa Festival, which signified its New Yam Festival.
He said: ‘The men came in two vehicles, a Lexus Jeep and Sienna vehicle, both without number; they came into Nibo through Amawbia, passing through all the police checkpoints and the Governor’s Lodge, and opened fire on our people in a shop. One of my vigilante men, Mr Uchenna Obiekwe, an only son who was unmarried, was killed.
‘Many people were injured, including the owner of the shop and his six years old daughter, who sustained bullet wounds on their legs. I cannot say for sure who the killers are. I cannot tell for now if they were cultists, unknown gunmen or just armed robbers, but time will tell.’
Also, a survivor, who identified himself as a staff of the Anambra State Ministry of Information by the name, Ichie Oku, said: ‘You people should help me thank God for sparing me. It is not because of my faithfulness, but God spared me and said I will live again.
‘I was in a joint today (Sunday), when those people arrived. One of them pointed a gun at me and the other told him I was not part of the people they were looking for, but he insisted and made to pull the trigger, but his colleague pushed him and the bullets hit the wall behind me; that was how I was saved.
‘Three people who were with me were killed instantly. They left, returned again and shot five other people before they left for Eke Nibo and killed more people. All these happened in less than five minutes,’ he said.
About 12 persons had been shot dead on Sunday in what has been speculated to be cult related killings targeted at rival cult members.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo had visited the scene and pledged to tackle all cult related violence in the state.
