Emmanuel Akidi, the president-general of the Awgbu community in Anambra State’s Orumba North Local Government Area, requested justice on Sunday for the five people who were allegedly killed during the attack on the village last week.
He claimed that last Thursday, when hoodlums broke into the neighborhood, the dead were killed and property worth more than N10 million was destroyed.
On Sunday in Awka, Akidi made a statement at a press conference.
He further mentioned that during the incident that was termed as retaliation, around 20 shops were set on fire.
He declared, “Last Thursday’s attack on Awgbu town resulted in the deaths of five of our natives and the destruction of property worth more than N10 million.
“On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 17, 2023, a commercial tricycle was chased into Awgbu town through Amaokpala by some commercial motorcyclists who claimed that they were armed robbers.
“A large crowd had gathered to join those who chased them into the town. In the ensuing melee, three of the occupants were caught. The Awgbu Vigilante Service was able to rescue one of them and promptly handed him over to the police.
“The crowd, which had become uncontrollable at the time, took the other two to the boundary of Awgbu-Agulu and executed them.
“Unfortunately, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, Awgbu was attacked by some hoodlums riding tricycles, whom eyewitnesses said came from Awka axis. The hoodlums set the market on fire and shot four persons dead and burnt one in his shop.
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“There are suggestions that the Thursday night attack is linked to Wednesday’s incident and that the attackers were on a reprisal.”
Akidi urged the Anambra State Police command to get to the root of the matter and ensure that the culprits were made to face the wrath of the law and give justice to the families of those killed.
“We plead with the Anambra State Government to come to the aid of the families of those killed and those who lost their property in the arson in the market by compensating the victims,” he added.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who also confirmed the incident in a press statement, said, “Following information on sporadic gunshot sounds and fire incidents in the Awgbu community, Orumba North, the joint security force was deployed to restore law and order.
“Preliminary assessments by the operatives showed that about 20 shops were affected by the burning fire while three persons who sustained gunshot injuries were immediately rushed to the hospital and one of the victims was later confirmed dead by the doctor.”
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