By Ola Kay
The security situation in Anambra State may have further heightened, as persons believed to be cultists went on rampage killing over 15 residents in Akwa, the State capital in at least within two weeks period.
Some unconfirmed reports, from our findings, associated the current state of affairs, leading to the unwarranted killings in the state capital to possible power tussle over who controls the collection of taxes and levies from commercial bus drivers and commercial tricyclists, popularly refered to as ‘okada.’
The Pinnacle Times had gathered that ,what has currently heightened concern among the people started during the recently concluded Easter festivities, in which at least six youths lost their lives. The incident took place at Okpuno, behind Juhel, Eke Awka area, Obinagu, including opposite Dike Park, around the Eke Awka Market, in Awka, the State capital, according to sources, who recounted how gunmen shot and caused panic at the locations.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed that , “some cultists struck and killed six persons and a judiciary staff was hit by bullet on the way.
On why the killing may be cult related, the source stated that the cultists usually return home during special celebrations, giving their rivals opportunity to launch reprisal attacks on them.
Similarly, it was gathered that few days after the Easter killing in the state some cultists were also killed, as tricycles were engaged in a cut.throat speed , along Mechanic Avenue, where one of the cultists got stuck and took to his heels and eventually captured and gunned down.
Few days after the incident, another Awka youth reportedly got killed close tricycle ( keke) park by Unizik Junction. Though, the victim was said to be a popular youth who controlled revenue collection among the tricycle operators in the area, he was absolved from being involved in any cult related activities.
Also, on Friday also, at Unizik Junction,a young man, simply referred to as Christian and hails from Enugu State, was gunned down in a form of assassination related matter, just as he was allegedly murdered “in the presence of his co-workers by gunmen who came in a yellow tricycle.” Earlier, the past president general of Amansea community in Awka North Local Government Area, Chief Cajetan Nwokike was killed under a questionable circumstance.
In similar fashion, another killing took place on Wednesday, as gunmen disrupted the peace of resident in the evening at Aroma junction. This led to the killing of another youth, said to be a revenue collector.
Same day, an official of the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency ,ARTMA, became a victim, as a source claimed that the development happened after he intercepted some people while on duty. The source said that gunmen in Toyota Sienna shot him and left the scene.
But, in reaction to the incident of insecurity, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga had expressed concern that the families of the victims failed to report the matter to the police for thorough investigation.
Further investigation into the matter revealed that , the victims’s family were not disposed to reporting to the police for fear of possible seizure of the corpses.
The police in turn had in a recent statement lamented that most cult kingpins arrested by police were being set free by the big men the area.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Akin Fakorede, was quoted as saying that, “When those things that have happened over a period of time begin to happen again, the question people should ask is Why?
“Could you imagine that the cultists we arrested, charged to court, and got remanded in prison custody that some powerful locals are going to the judiciary to lobby to get them released?
About The Author
