•••As Joint Taskforce Hunt For Suspects
By John Ugo, Awka
There is confusion across the seven local government area of Anambra’ North Senatorial district of the state as youths of Anaku community in Ayamelum local government area, invaded Omor community in same local government area of Anambra state; killing eight persons.
The Network gathered that scores are missing.
The attackers were said to have abducted six other young men from Omor town, and allegedly took them to a notorious shrine in Anaku community called Ekwensu Anaku, even as their whereabouts remain unknown as at the time of this report.
Recall that hundreds of buildings worth billions of Naira have been destroyed and many lives lost few years back to the protracted land dispute between the two communities.
Our correspondent who visited the troubled town on Monday evening after an early morning attack observed that the area was deserted, as residents fled in droves in fear of riprisal attacks.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu when contacted confirmed the incident on Tuesday.
He said the command has intensified a manhunt for one Mr Nnamdi Maduneke and cohorts who are suspects in the killings.
He said that the suspects, wielding AK47 rifles in the early hours of Monday without any provocation started shooting indiscriminately in Omar Community, and murdered six persons and inflicted serious injuries on two others.
According to him, the Joint Taskforce team comprising Police and military have been deployed to the area.
He added that the deployment of security operatives has reinforced the security of life and properties as well as enhanced the provision of law and order in the area.
He said that preliminary information to the Police revealed that the cause of the incident was as a result of protracted communal dispute between the two communities, Omor and Anaku in Anyamelum Local Government Area.
The command added that, patrol and operations are still ongoing and the situation is being monitored.
A community leader, who gave his name as Hon. Peter Emeka, disclosed that the attackers, whom he claimed were youths of neighbouring Anaku community, in the same council area, were said to have arrived in several motorcycles, and shot sporadically and directly aiming at people on sight.
Emeka further alleged that one Nnamdi Muoneke aka Vulture, who he alleged to be “a dreaded bandit” from Anaku town, with his gang members, masterminded the attack.
He said, “Nnamdi Muoneke is a notorious criminal in Anaku community. He has been terrorizing communities in Ayamelum; especially Omor.
“When he arrived on Monday, 6th of February, 2023 with his gang members, many people in our community identified him; because, he is notorious in unleashing mayhem on people; including setting people’s houses on fire whenever he is provoked. He brandishes AK47 at will; even before law enforcement agencies.”
He stated that the bodies of those who died were deposited in two separate mortuaries.
At the mortuaries, it was discovered that five bodies were deposited in Nigro Mortuary, Omor, while three bodies were deposited in Saint Mary’s Hospital mortuary, Ifite-Ogwari, also in Ayamelum Local Governnent Area.
Also the traditional ruler of Omor, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Oranu Chidume, said the attack came as a surprise to him, as he just had peace meeting with leaders of Anaku; the neighbouring town that has been having issues with his community for a long time.
He said, “I can recall that we have held a couple of peace meetings, and my people are very keen in seeing that peace reigns between us and our neighbours. In the most recent meeting were the leader of Anaku community, Barr Anthony Ifeanya, who is the current Commissioner for Petroleum Resources in Anambra; Chief Livinus Onyenwe, who is the Transition Committee Chairman of Ayamelum; as well as Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor, who is the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, and member representing Ayamelum Constituency.”
He stated that, “The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that there was lasting peace between Omor and Anaku. The meeting was fruitful, and we agreed to work together and do all that we can to ensure that there is peace; and that is why Monday invasion came as a surprise to me.”
The monarch called on Governor Charles Soludo, as well as the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng; to act fast and bring the culprits to justice. He noted that if something is not done fast, the situation may degenerate.
He also appealed to the Ayamelum Leaders of Thought, who he said, have been on the matter for long, to rise up to the occasion because of the need to find lasting solution to the menace.
He said, “Everybody knows that this is not the first of such incidents that Omor people are suffering in the hands of Anaku youths. Many of this have happened in the past without any repercussions on the perpetrators, and it has happened yet again. We are, therefore, calling on the government of Anambra state to act swiftly and decisively.”
On his part, the leader of Anaku community, Barr. Tony Ifeanya, said , “Our community is also looking for the leader of the perpetrators everywhere to arrest him. Whenever we get hold of him, we’ll hand him over to government for necessary action. Our community, and Ayamelum people are already tired of him.”
Also, the Transition Committee Chairman of Ayamelum LGA, Chief Livinus Onyenwe, confirmed the attack.
According to him, “A terrorist leader from Anaku attacked Omor people. We call it terrorist attack because, the young man in question has been going about terrorizing people. He went to Omor town and killed people numbering eight or more; because, there are others in the hospital, whose survival is not certain.
“We made necessary calls, and joint team of police and army went there, but were unable to subdue him. We are looking up to the joint team to get him down; but on the event where they cannot do so within a reasonable time, we shall devise alternative means to get him.”
