By John Ugo, Awka
Members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), Anambra State chapter on Monday demanded for justice over the gruesome murder of their cleague and Chairman of the body in Aguata Local Govermnent Area, Mr Mmaduabuchi Nnofu.
They also called on the police authority to wade into the matter and bring to book the perpetrators of the callous act.
Mr. Nnofu aged 47 years until his death was visually impaired and a native of Eziagulu in Ekwulobia community.
He was said to have allegedly been murdered and set ablaze by a relative (name withheld) on Sunday, January 30, 2022.
Members of the group in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer Comrade Ifeanyi Igwegbe, Comr. Ugochukwu Okeke E.C
State Chairman and Bar.Peter Muoneke
Legal Adviser explained that Nnofu was at home relaxing when the suspect came in with weapons and killed him before setting him ablaze within the compound.
“We suspect that he was murdered over a family land which had been duly assigned to him by their late father.”
They stated that “Late Mmaduabuchi, while alive, confided in us that the land in question was willed to him by his late father, who also willed another one behind his to the prime suspect. He also told us that his brother since then had tried all he could to take over the land by force for sale.”
According to them, the prime suspect allegedly approached Aguata Customary Court, which in its wisdom, urged them to settle the issue out of court. They were still waiting to settle the case out of court only for us to hear the news that the suspect allegedly walked into his (deceased) compound last Sunday and gruesomely murdered him.
“JONAPWD believed that this evil act was pepetrated on our member because he was blind and helpless. Mmaduabuchi Nnofu was killed because his sibling saw him as nobody or disabled especially because he was blind and unmarried.”
“This negates his rights as human and as uphold by the United Nations Charter; Article 15 and section 21(1b) of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018), and Sections 33 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
“Therefore, we are demanding for justice for late Mmaduabuchi Nnofu. Justice is necessary to prevent a repeat of this man inhumanity to man on our members or any other person anywhere in Nigeria.”
JONAPWD Anambra is therefore appealing to the Nigerian Police Force, Anambra State Command to amongst others to arrest the prime suspect and to conduct investigation into the matter as well as charge him and other possible conspirators to court accordingly.
“We also want the Anambra State Government, international community, civil society organisations and other relevant bodies to kindly wade into this ugly incident to bring justice to our member.