By Cajetan Mmuta
Shockwaves and anger seem to have taken the better part of residents of Awka the Anambra’ state capital and adjoining towns following two days reign of terror by unknown gunmen and suspected cultists which left persons dead.
The activities of unknown gunmen and suspected rival members of secret cultists on bloody revenge mission had between Monday and Tuesday held Awka the State capital and Obosi in Idemili North local government area of the state hostage.
As at the last count, four young men were on Monday evening shot dead at close range by gunmen at Nodu quarters in Okpuno Community, Awka South local government area of the state.
It was learnt that the unidentified armed men who rode in a tinted Toyota Corolla car had stormed the Nodu Okpuno area and swooped on the four boys who were seated with their host as part of the new year outing.
This is as the another set of gunmen on same Monday evening descended on Obosi community where they murdered the President-General, Hon Ike Okolo.
Also, a young tricycle operator was shot dead by another gang of hoodlums who rode on a motorcycle along Aguoye-Ezi Awka road in the capital town.
The incident happened at about 5:48pm near a popular white house in the area.
The victim was said to be with another adjacent to his father’s house when the killers suddenly emerged in a motorcycle and shot him at close range.
Residents along Aguoye community took to their heels for safety as the gunmen sped off.
Whe our correspondent got to the scene of incident, hordes of sympathizers and family members besieged the area even as other wailed provided over the sudden demise of their own at his prime.
His body was later taken to the morgue even as the matter was said to have been reported to a nearby police station in the area.
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Besides, two others were shot dead on Tuesday by unidentified armed men believed to be members of a rival secret cult group along Ifite-Unizik School road in Awka town.
However, the Obosi President General Hon Okolo was shot dead in a petrol station in the community at about 8 pm.
A video circulating on the internet showed that the community leader was shot right inside his SUV, as he sat in a pool of his own blood, behind the steering of the Jeep.
Obosi is believed to be notorious for cult clashes, a development the President-General is said to have stood against, since he ascended office.
The State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has reacted to the killing of the President General of Obosi Community, Hon Ike Okolo on January 2, 2023.
Therehave been series of cult related attacks in several communities in Anambra State for sometime now, but the violence seemed to have increased during the yuletide.
In Nodu, Okpuno community, the four men were said to be sitting in one Obi Maduka’s compound on New Year day, and being entertained by their host when they were shot dead by suspected cultists.
The names of the victims were given as; Onyiebo Okoye, Kenechukwu Okeke, Jude Ebenezar and Obinna Maduka.
Governor Soludo in a statement by his Press Secretary Mr Christian Aburime, condemned the killings.
A cording to the statement, “The State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has condemned the cult-related war among rival groups and subsequent killings in Obosi and Okpuno in Idemili North and Awka South Council Areas respectively.
“Governor Soludo condemns these mindless killings in the strongest terms and has assured that the perpetrators will be apprehended and decisively dealt with, even if they have ran out of town. He stressed that they will be hunted down to face the full wrath of the law.”
He said that during this festive season, Anambra has enjoyed the best Christmas ever in decades as it was traffic-free with a new system of traffic control put in place by the government during the festive season with Anambra Youth Volunteers and the State traffic management agency working 24 hours at all the critical points to control traffic.
“Monday that used to be observed as sit at home, witnessed massive outdoor activities, as the State bubbled with activities all over.
“Governor Soludo further reassured that the cult gangs that fought today will surely be tracked down and dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.”.
The state has in the past few weeks come under the siege of suspected kidnappers, cultists, robbers and other criminal elements.
Although, the state governnent is not resting on its oars with security agents across the state
