By Cajetan Mmuta
Family members of Ezeanochie in Umudansu village in Azia town of Ihiala Local government Anambra state and security agents are spoiling for war over the gruesome murder of their daughter, 20-year-old Miss Chidimma by men of the Police Special Unit deployed to the area.
Miss Chidimma was shot dead by operatives of the police Special unit on patrol in the village at about 5 pm on Thursday, November 25, 2021 while on an errand by her mother to buy a bag of pure water for the family’s use.
Investigations revealed that the little girl was in the company of her 14-year-old brother to buy the bag of pure water when the security operatives shot and shattered her head with bullets while her brother escaped death by whiskers.
She was said to have died at the spot while her brother ran home to alert the family about the strange occurrence.
It was not certain what may have transpired that led the patrol team to open fire on the hapless Miss Chidimma and her brother which led to the sudden death of the girl.
The ugly incident had thrown the distraught family and kinsmen of Azia town in deep pain even as the bereaved mother has continued to wail profusely over the sad development that befell the family.
However, both the bereaved family and the entire Azia town are demanding justice over the killing.
Already, Dr. Nwabueze Tonna on behalf of the President General, Azia General Assembly had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba through the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Echeng Echeng Eworo over the death of Miss Chidimma Ezeanochie by the policemen of the Special Unit of the force deployed from Awka the Anambra state capital to Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local government area.
Dr. Nwabueze in the petition stated that “Miss Chidimma Ezeanochie aged 20 years hails from Umudansu Village of Azia, in Ihiala local Government Area of Anambra state. At about 5 pm on this faithful date,(Thursday 25th Nov. 2021) little Miss Chidimma was sent on an errand by the mother to buy bags of satchet water from one of the shops at Ogwumabiri, located along our major road Orsumoghu — Azia road where she met her untimely death from these policemen driving through Azia from Orsumoghu.”
According to the petition, “She (Chidimma) was accompanied by his junior brother who is 14 years. Miss Chidimma and the brother was shot at, a close-range by one of the men of this special unit inside an Armored vehicle.”
He stated that “Fortunately the brother was spared but the bullet scattered our daughter’s head with the brain matters on the ground. She died instantly.”
The town union noted that “It’s quite unimaginable because there was no form of provocation that could be linked to this. About 100 meters from the site of this incident, they equally opened fire on a packed Sienna space bus by a block industry.”
“We contacted the area Commander on this, he told us that the police men are special Unit from Awka deployed to Orsumoghu against the IPOB boys.”
The President General of the town union said, “Azia is totally different from Orsumoghu geographically and we are a very peaceful town There was neither history of unrest nor hiding of criminal elements in our town. This murder is gruesome, wicked and totally unacceptable by the community.”
The people explained further that “Presently her body is deposited at Osungwu memorial hospital mortuary, Okija.”
“Your Excellency Sir, we humbly demand for justice from your good office on the murder of our daughter, little Miss Chidimma Ezeanochi,” they stated.
But Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu when contacted on Friday said “It is not true, though the facts of the matter are still coming up, but I can confirm to you that yesterday (Thursday) police successfully repelled an attack on Police escort team by yet unidentified persons that lay ambushed on along Azia road.”
He said, “Two rifles were recovered. The innocent girl might be caught up in a crossfire and her death is regrettable and painful. However it is a false claim she was targeted and shot by the police.”
