The people of Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have called on the police to begin a proper investigation into the killing of five persons, including two indigenes and three strangers, in the community on Sunday.
The community’s President-General, Chief Daniel Okoye, in a press statement on Tuesday, disclosed that the investigation was inevitable to douse the tension among the indigenes as a result of the killing.
However, the state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, had described the incident as cult-related, saying information from eyewitnesses and some villagers revealed that the victims were known for their nefarious activities and were always in a rivalry with another cult group in the area.
But Okoye lamented that since the killings on Sunday, the response and approach from the police operatives had been inadequate, urging them to do all in their power to apprehend the killers and restore peace to their community
He insisted that there was also no proof to support the police claim that the murderers were cult-related as the community would not jump to any conclusion.
The statement read in part, “On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Nawfia was thrown into mourning after the brazen actions of men of the underworld. These criminals came into the town and opened fire on innocent and defenceless citizens, killing five. Many people were also injured, including a small child.
“The victims include two indigenes, Samuel Onyebuchi Nnatuanya (26 years old) and Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu Nwonukwue (29 years old). Both hailed from Adagbe Mmimi village, Nawfia.
“The three other victims lived in Nawfia. One was from Ukwulu, one was from Ebonyi State, while the last victim was from the Northern region of the country.
“From early investigations, it was found that around 8:00 pm on Sunday, a Lexus RX and a Toyota Sienna came to the Umukwa-Umuriam area of the town and opened fire on the unsuspecting youths before speeding away. An AK-47 and a shotgun were used in the cowardly attack.”
He stated that the leadership of Nawfia mourned their kin who were senselessly murdered in the prime of their lives, noting that they also bemoaned the killings of their residents who had deemed Nawfia a place worth inhabiting.
Okoye urged the members of the community to remain calm and patient, in the face that many stories and theories had been formed despite a lack of evidence to prove them.
“As of now, there is no indication that the killers were sent from a neighbouring town. There is also no proof to support that the murderers were cult-related. We will not rule out any party at this point and will not jump to any conclusion. We plead with Ndi Nawfia and the general public to do the same.
“We call on the Nigeria Police to do a proper and thorough investigation. So far, the response and approach have been inadequate. They should do all in their power to seek out and apprehend these serial killers and bring peace back to our environs,” he added.
When contacted on Tuesday, the spokesman for the Anambra Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said operations by the joint patrol with operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad were ongoing for the possible arrest of the gunmen.
Ikenga did not mention if any arrest had been made.
“It is a suspected cult clash that occurred on Sunday at about 8:25 pm. The security operatives upon arrival at the scene, found four lifeless bodies of young men in a pool of blood with suspected multiple gunshot injuries lying on the road.
“Information from eyewitnesses and some villagers revealed that the victims are known for their nefarious activities and are always in rivalry with another cult group in the area.
“Furthermore, Joint patrol with Operatives of the Special Anit Cultism Squad has been intensified in the area,” he added.
