The Anambra State Police Command has initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators behind the brutal killing of 13 Ebonyi State indigenes in Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The victims were attending their regular monthly meeting when armed gunmen stormed the venue on Monday evening, opening fire and killing 13 people while injuring others.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the attack, stating that the assailants arrived in two SUVs and opened fire unprovoked. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the attack and ordered the scene to be secured for investigation. The victims were rushed to the hospital, but 10 were confirmed dead by the police; however, community leaders maintain that 13 were killed with two others seriously injured.
Mr. Augustine Odom, chairman of the Ebonyi community in Anambra, described the harrowing incident, revealing that the gunmen demanded the meeting’s minutes book before ordering everyone to lie down and then opening fire. The victims came from various Ebonyi communities, including Izzi, Ikwo, and Mgbo. The two survivors are currently receiving medical treatment.
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has strongly condemned the killings, describing the act as senseless, barbaric, and an affront to peace and human dignity. He has called on his Anambra counterpart, Governor Charles Soludo, to ensure a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation. Nwifuru warned that any failure to bring the perpetrators to justice could strain relations between the two states.
The police have assured the public that a security team is actively working to apprehend those responsible and that justice will be pursued without compromise. Meanwhile, community leaders urge calm and discourage any retaliatory actions to prevent escalation of tensions.
The incident has sparked widespread shock and mourning across Ebonyi State and the larger Nigerian community, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region and the urgent need for effective law enforcement responses.