By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command on Wednesday raised the alarm over the rising spate of attacks and disturbance of public peace.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tony Olofu stated this shortly after he led a team of top personnel of the command to the scene of the Tuesday evening attack that led to the death of Dr. Chike Akunyili in Idemili North council area of the state.
He called for calm among members of the deceased family and people of the state, assuring that police would collaborate with other security agencies to decisively deal with the perpetrators.
This as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), on Wednesday exonerated the group from any involvement in the gruesome murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili, the husband to late former Minister of Information and Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration, (NAFDAC), late Prof. Dora Akunyili.
Already, tension has heightened in parts of the state following the latest killing of Dr. Akunyili whom many believe hardly hurt a fly even before, during, and after the wife’s demise in 2014.
This is as checks have shown that all the participating political parties in the forthcoming Governorship election in the state have dramatically withdrawn their branded campaign vehicles off the roads over fear of targeted attacks.
The apex Igbo Socio-Cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has described as shocking the killing of Dr. Chike Akunyili even as it called on the relevant security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in order to fish out his killers.
Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide Chief Alex Nnadozie in reaction noted that the deceased was a social and gentleman reputed for his commitment and industry as a private medical practitioner.
Chief Edozien frowned at the spate of killings being perpetrated on human lives, stressing that the Igbo race abhors such sacrilegious and condemnable act in all 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 ostracized or sent on exile.”
Further findings revealed that more than 18 persons including some members of major parties in the contest have been shot dead in the wake of a spate of attacks by suspected gunmen.
Worse as the situation remains tense, rival bloody clashes between members of secret cult fraternities have suddenly surfaces which have led to the death of at least ten persons during attacks in parts of Awka and adjoining towns of the state.
It would be recalled that a gang of suspected unknown gunmen had on Tuesday evening killed Dr. Chike Akunyili at Eke Nkpor junction while on his way to Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of the State.
He was said to be returning to his Agulu hometown after he attended an event organized by members of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association (UNNAA) at which the wife Dora Akunyili was given an award.
An unconfirmed report had it that the personal driver and police orderly attached to the late Dr. Akunyili was also killed during the attack by the Gunmen.
However, IPOB had alleged that Chike’s death was a pure political assassination, pointing out that those behind the dastard act are contesting for the upcoming November 6th Anambra State governorship election.
The Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful in a statement made available to newsmen. In Awka the state capital said those who poisoned the late Dora were allegedly responsible for her husband’s death.
According to the statement “Those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband, killed his wife with poison are Fulani because she exposed Yar’adua’s death for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take over as President of failed Nigeria.”
“They know themselves, Those that conspired to poisoned Prof. Dora Akunyili, they’re contesting the governorship election in Anambra State today.”
Final moments before Dr. Chike Akunyili’s assassination in Anambra
“We have no issues with Chike Akunyili and we don’t know him, those behind this act must stop this and stop using IPOB’s name, we don’t want anybody to blame IPOB because we must get them. This is pure political assassination going on in Anambra State now and it’s been perfected by Nigeria DSS; security agents are doing this to paint IPOB back in the face of support and encouragement we are getting from our people.”
“We know their plans and gimmick to discourage Biafrans who are encouraging and supporting us but it can’t work for them. In the near future, those committing these atrocities in Imo and Anambra states will hear from IPOB and our people should not blame us because we must get them.”
The tragic death of the soft-spoken late Chike Akunyili has sparked anger amongst stakeholders and groups across the state and the nation at large including political actors.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment in Anambra State Mr. Don. C. Adinuba in the reaction described the demise of late Akunyili as “Very Devastating”, pointing out that he was with the deceased at the award ceremony in Onitsha the commercial town of the state.
However, Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Mr. Tony Olofu observed with grave concern, the series of security breaches that have taken place within the State, and has therefore ordered tactical Commanders of the Command to immediately put an end to the madness.
He gave the order when he led senior police officers from the command on-the-spot assessment to the crime scenes.
While regretting the unfortunate loss of lives and valuables due to those senseless acts, Olofu sued for calm, as the Command collaborates with other Security Agencies in State to decisively deal with the perpetrators, who seem to have lost every iota of human conscience and sensibility in them.
He implored members of the public, particularly residents of the State, to continue to partner with the Police with a view of containing these atrocious acts, stressing that the Command was more than ever determined to flush out these undesirable elements and make the entire State safer for law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful businesses.
A team of Police Operatives attached to Aguata Area Command at about 2 pm of 28th of September 2021 while on routine patrol duty along Ezinifite/Igboukwu road, was attacked by hoodlums riding in two unmarked Sienna vehicles and a Toyota Hummer bus. The hoodlums set the patrol vehicle ablaze and fled the scene. No life was lost and normalcy has been restored in the area.
Similarly, there was a gun attack on a member of the public at about 5 pm along Oko road. The criminal elements set the vehicle of the victim ablaze, leaving him with a bullet wound, and escaped. The victim was rescued and taken to the hospital where he is responding to treatment.
In a related development, at about 4 pm of 28/09/2021 the undesirable elements, in an attempt to snatch a Lexus 350 along from its driver along Agulu Road, shot him. The attackers abandoned the victim and the car and fled. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead by doctors on duty. Meanwhile, the body has been deposited to the hospital and the said vehicle recovered.
Also, the miscreants at about 5 pm along Nkpor roundabout, without any provocation, attacked and shot a Police Inspector attached to a VIP.
He was quickly rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. The assailants also beheaded a yet-to-be-identified man and fled the scene.
At Afor Nkpor junction, three yet unidentified lifeless bodies were recovered, a burnt Toyota Hilux and a vandalized Toyota hummer bus were also seen at the scene. The bodies were taken to the hospital and regrettably, one of the bodies was identified as one Mr. Chike Akunyili.
The state police boss sternly decried the ugly development, and called for calm, while assuring the good people of Anambra and residents alike that the Command is committed to enhancing public safety and peace.
