By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Wife of the late Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi), Dr. Bianca Ojukwu has made a shocking revelation of a mass grave and the killing of over 322 persons in Anambra State.
The mass grave and figure of the dead were discovered during the sitting and investigation of members of the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission set up by the state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo shortly after his assumption of office.
Bianca Ojukwu, who is also a former Nigeria Ambassador to Spain and member of the TJP Commission, stated this in a statement on her facebook wall on Tuesday, adding that the mass grave had been sealed off for forensic investigation.
The statement is titled: “A mass grave site discovered in Anambra sealed off for forensic investigation.”
The commission, which sat between October 26 and November 3, received 31 petitions, 242 exhibits, met 11 organisations, 19 communities and an individual during its proceedings.
*In the course of the proceedings, the gruesome discovery of a mass grave site was brought by testimonies, to the attention of the Commission.”
“We are living in alarming and anxiety inducing times, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain prayed to God to heal our land.”
She said: “The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission has concluded its second phase of public hearing. Our Commission, headed by Prof Chidi Odinkalu interrogated a total of 39 witnesses who testified on oath while 243 exhibits were collected during the proceedings.
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*Our Commission, headed by Prof Chidi Odinkalu interrogated a total of 39 witnesses who testified on oath while 243 exhibits were collected during the course of the proceedings.”
“The commission also met with 31 petitioners, including 11 organisations, 19 communities and one individual during the marathon sittings which lasted from October 26 to November 3.
“Some 322 persons were verified as killed or dead as a result of violence as testified by the witnesses while so many are still missing, or their fate not yet verified. 18 persons have been categorically identified as missing or disappeared.
During the proceedings, the gruesome discovery of a mass grave site was brought by testimonies, to the attention of the Commission.
Dr. Ojukwu added: “Chairman of the Commission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu mandated that the suspected mass-grave site be sealed for forensic investigation by pathologists. This will help in unravelling who the victims were and the circumstances of their deaths.
“The TJP commission had earlier held the first phase of its public hearing between June and July this year in the course of which we considered 24 petitions and met with 48 witnesses who testified on oath from 14 communities of the State within a 10-day hearing.”
Continuing, she said: “The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission was constituted by Gov. Charles Soludo in June 2022 to inquire into the violent agitations, and restiveness in the state and in neighbouring states.
“A Bureau of Missing Persons as recommended by this Commission has already been established in the state to document the missing and the circumstances of their disappearance.
“We are living in alarming and anxiety-inducing times. May God heal our Land. Amen.”
Recall that over 80 decomposing and headless bodies were discovered two weeks ago near the cattle market in Umuahia, Abia State capital.”
