Few weeks to the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, signs are obvious of the trouble lying ahead, given the spate of killings and destruction of properties in the past two months. CAJETAN MMUTA reports.

Over the last two months, gory tales of killings and destruction have characterised parts of Anambra State, and they have become cause of worry. In the past seven months, about 75 persons have been killed in questionable circumstances, especially in the wake of spate of attacks by unknown gunmen. Admitted that the state government and its over 185 communities are faced with an arduous task of securing lives and properties, it still leaves everyone with begging answers as to who these menacing marauders apparently living in their midst are.

The blood-letting has continued unabated. In September, the deposed monarch of Mkpunando community in Aguleri, Anambra East local government area, Igwe Alexander Edozieuno and his personal driver, simply identified as Chukwuemeka, were gruesomely assassinated near Ezu bridge in Otuocha community in the state.

Drama and theories have continued to trail the events that led to the painful death of the traditional ruler, which has sparked a serious row in government circles. Some politicians and parties point accusing fingers at each other, while the monarch’s death is still robed in controversy,

Meanwhile, the distraught family is still reeling in anguish, and the angst has surface in the legal turf over allegations of defamation and libel. Findings revealed that Chief Edozieuno was among the 12 monarchs from the state who were deposed by the Anambra State Government for travelling to Abuja to see President Muhammadu Buhari, allegedly without the approval by the government.

He was reported to be amongst guests and APC supporters who were in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to welcome President Buhari during his recent one-day official visit to the ‘Heartland state’, which coincided with the sit-at-home directive of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

However, the state governor, Willie Obiano, had directed the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tony Olofu, to deploy all resources available to the state command to fish out the killers of the former traditional ruler.

Obiano, through a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, said it was disheartening that Chief Edozieuno should die that way when violent crime had been reduced to its lowest level in Anambra State since its creation in August, 1991.

The statement read, “We regret that there are still elements who have little regard for human life, let alone the dignity of the human person. This is in spite of the sustained efforts of the current administration to make our society more caring and more despite. “We extend the condolences of the people and Government of Anambra State to the Edozieuno family, the Mkpunando community, the friends, relatives and associates of Chief Edozieuno”.

Also, the Commissioner of Police, Tony Olofu, ordered investigation on the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Ikenga Toochukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police commissioner had led a team of operatives to the scene of the murder incident.

While the state and its people were yet to come to terms with the demise of the traditional ruler and several others, including those linked with rival secret cult and related clashes, the unexpected again happened.

On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, in what seemed much more controversial incident, gunmen struck at Eke Nkpor, near Umuoji in Idemili North council area of the state, where they swooped on Dr. Chike Akunyili, (Agbalanze of Agulu), and killed him, alongside the personal driver and police orderly.

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Akunyili was the husband of late former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and ex-minister of information and culture, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who died in 2014 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

The late popular surgeon and Enugu-based private practitioner was said to have been shot dead after he and others attended a memorial lecture organised at Sharon Hall in All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, by members of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association (UNNAA), Onitsha branch, in honour of his late wife, Prof Dora Akunyili.

A source said before his assassination, the late Chike Akunyili was spoking glowingly about Dora, his wife. He made a donation of N500,000 to the association, but was felled with gun bullets shortly after an emotional rapport with his son, Obum, who now works with Anambra State government. Presently, there is gloom in Agulu town. The community issued a three-day mourning in honour of their son who had made them proud in various ways.

The traditional ruler of Agulu Community, Igwe Innocent Obodoakor, described the late Akunyili as a great son of Agulu, and a peace loving man who cannot hurt anybody. “This is very terrible news, and I never believed that this type of thing will take place. In fact, I am shocked. “We lost Dora Akunyili and now the husband is dead. These children cannot be without father and without mother, and what are they going to do? Agulu has lost a great son, and this has thrown us in a mourning mood in our community,” the mournful monarch said.

Former governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi also mourned the demise of Dr. Chike Akunyili.

He described the renowned doctor’s killing, as well as those of other innocent people a sad development. Obi, in an interview with newsmen in Agulu shortly a condolence visit to the bereaved family, said, “It Is a sad situation, and nobody can tell the reason how and why our society degenerated to this level.” According to Obi, “The only solution to this problem is a collective attention of all stakeholders; those in government, and in fact, everybody in the society.”

While recalling how the tragic news about the death of Dr. Akunyili came to him through WhatsApp message, the former governor said he had to quickly rush down to Anambra from Owerri in Imo State.

According to him, he had spoken to the deceased’s son living abroad and also met with his other son who identified his father’s body at Iyienu Hospital where the bodies of Akunyili and eight others were kept.

Obi commended the police for taking the bodies to the hospital, but expressed fears that if the situation is not arrested, the society would be doomed. Recall that the state has also been of recent at the receiving end of killings associated with political campaigns, especially at Nnewi and elsewhere.

On its part, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has described as shocking the killing of Dr. Chike Akunyili as sad, even as it called on the relevant security agencies not to leave any stone unturned to fish out his killers.

Its Secretary-General, Chief Alex Nnadozie, noted that the deceased was social and a gentleman reputed for his commitment and industry as a private medical practitioner. Nnadozie frowned at the spate of killings being perpetrated on human lives in the south-east zone, stressing that the Igbo race abhors such sacrilegious and condemnable act in its entirety.

According to him, “anyone who reads Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ will know that it’s a sacrilege for the any Igbo to kill somebody, and that’s why when such act is committed anywhere in Igbo land, the person, if found, is ostracised or sent on exile.”

Information commissioner, C. Don Adinuba, described the demise of Dr. Akunyili as ‘very devastating’, pointing out that he was with the deceased at the award ceremony in Onitsha commercial town of the state.

In response, Governor Obiano, in a state-wide broadcast, decried the killings and placed a N20 million bounty on the fleeing of killers of Dr. Chike Akunyili. He also condemned the recent attacks in different areas of the state. He said, “I have received from security commanders, offices of some political parties, branded campaign vehicles and individuals occupying them have been attacked with killings and burning of vehicles observed. Other innocent road users have become victims of this menace with many losing their lives and others, their properties.”

He noted that, “Between Sunday 26th and yesterday 28th September, 2021, attacks on citizens at Oko, Agulu, Obosi, Nkpor, Nnobi, Nnewi and other places have left about ten people dead, including an illustrious son of this state, Dr. Chike Akunyili, husband of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, who was reportedly gunned down yesterday around Nkpor.

“These are our own people dying every day and for what reason? Ndi Anambra, these attacks and accompanying deaths cannot be justified and must stop now. I have therefore conducted an extensive security meeting and have directed all security agencies to step up and confront this monster ravaging our land.

“I charge everyone involved in the security architecture of Anambra State to take very seriously this threat to our livelihood and boldly rise to confront the same. Everything that needs to be done will be done, and no stone will be left unturned in this effort. My directive to this effect is clear, and I urge every security personnel on duty in Anambra State to do his utmost best to secure our people.

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The governor urged all to join forces with the government to confront a common enemy, adding, “We cannot condone this savagery for any reason whatsoever.” Obiano further called on youths, traditional rulers, presidents-general, clergymen, vigilante groups, and all leadership structures, to take responsibility and in conjunction with the police, military and other law enforcement agencies, to work and restore order immediately in various communities.

According to him, “To reinforce our commitment and seriousness on this issue, I, on behalf of the state government, wish to announce a twenty million Naira reward for any useful information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of these heinous attacks on our state. The people behind this must be unmasked and brought to book.”