The leadership of Nsugbe community in Anambra East Local Government Area, has condemned the recent brutal murder of its two youths, Chukwurah Nweze and Gozie Ambrose-Anyansi, allegedly by members of Nneyi Umueri.
In a press conference held in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, the community leaders called on the state government to expedite a thorough investigation and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, emphasizing the need for peaceful coexistence.
Recall, that the tragic incident occurred on November 22nd, 2023, when Nweze and Anyansi, both from Enugwu village in Nsugbe, were assaulted while attempting to understand the reason behind Umueri’s raid on their community.
Narrating the ugly incident,an eyewitness, Mr. Francis Ọkọnkwo reported that the raid resulted in injuries to Ikechukwu Akpeh and the destruction of Mrs. Onyinye Obiudu’s property, including her shop and two deep freezers, between nine o’clock and ten o’clock in the morning.
Mr. Ọkọnkwo, a member of the Nsugbe Vigilante group and a commercial driver, recounted how he narrowly escaped the violent encounter by revealing his maternal ties to Nneyi.
He said aggression from people of Umueri armed with machetes, daggers, and axes, as they chanted “them no fear na our signboard them go remove, was uncalled for.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Nsugbe, Igwe Victor Ntoka, expressed concern over the incident and explained that Nsugbe residents had ventured into their land, shared with Umueri, following the arrival of mobile men from FCT Abuja to ascertain the place they will build their mobile base and discovered that people of Umueri had allegedly forcefully taken over Nsugbe territory.
Igwe Ntoka condemned the encroachment and urged the government to ensure justice is served.
Expressing concern, President General of Nsugbe Development Union, Dr. Chinweze Ezeanwu, strongly denounced the orchestrated attack by what he described as criminal elements from Umueri.
He refuted media allegations that Nsugbe had raided Umueri, presenting evidence that clearly indicated the contrary.
Dr. Ezeanwu called on the government to arrest the culprits promptly, highlighting Nsugbe’s long-standing commitment to peace and warned against disturbing the community’s tranquility.
In his reaction, the President, Nsugbe Youth Assembly, Home and Abroad, Engineer Chidi Obiudu, called for justice to be served, calling for perpetrators of the murderous act to be brought to book.
According to Mr. Michael Amakom, from Enugwu Nsugbe, the murdered youths were his nephews and explained that the community’s youths went to show the police the government-registered land where a mobile base will be built, documented in the government gazette on June 29, 2012, after which the ugly incident occurred.
He said the land, encompassing portions eight, nine, ten and eleven from the Ochapiliti layout, received approval from the Anambra State Government through the Anambra State Urban Development at Gazette Number four, Volume nineteen, dated August 13, 2009, on page B7, part B, ASLN number two, and Prior to gazetting, a public notice was issued in the Daily Independent newspaper on Thursday, 27, 2008, inviting objections within a twenty one-day period, but no objections were raised, and the notice was endorsed by the then-Governor Mr. Peter Obi.
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