Anambra Community Protests Over Release Of Four Murder Suspects From Police Custody

Scores of widows and relatives of those allegedly killed by a deadly gang, Pillar Youths, operating in the oil-rich Ogwuaniocha community in Anambra State’s Ogbaru Local Government Area, took to the streets yesterday to protest the release of four murder suspects detained in various police formations across the state.

The demonstrators focused their protest on the fact that the murder suspects were granted bail by the Chairman of the Ogbaru Local Government Transition Committee, Hon. Pascal Aniegbunam.

Protesters held placards with inscriptions like “Ogbaru council chairman stop aiding and abetting Pillar Youths to kill us, Ogbaru LGA chairman allow police to do their work, we need justice on the murder of our husbands and relations by killer pillar Youths, Pascal Aniegbunam, council chairman has no right to release those who kill our husbands and relations,” and chanted songs in their local dialect.

They urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to persuade the council boss to distance himself from the situation and allow the police to do their job, claiming that it took some time to apprehend the murder suspects and prepare them for trial.

During the demonstration, Mrs. Augustina Ejiofor, wife of Mr. Sunday Ejiofor, stated that the Pillar Youths kidnapped and killed her husband. Anthony Nnaji, one of the suspects, was arrested and detained at Zone 13 Police Command, Ukpo. Chibunna and Jekwu were also arrested and detained at SARS Awkuzu, and another was arrested by Police Area Command Oraifite. However, the council chairman used his position to release them.

“Two of those suspects, Chibunna and Jekwu, are his local government security guards, and they routinely storm our camps, kidnapping and killing perceived enemies. They should leave us alone in the camp where we are staying after evicting us from our homes”.

“Governor Soludo, we need justice in the abduction and murder of Sunday Ejiofor, Afam Enyimezie, and Friday Obimma, among others. “Governor Soludo, we are dying; Pascal should let us be and let justice take its course,” she begged.

“God will not let the council chairman go Scott free because he bailed out those who killed our husbands and other relatives. Pascal, rather than acting as a father figure in Ogbaru, is biassed because he helps and abets Pillar Youths. “Let him leave the police to do their jobs,” she cried.

Mrs. Ijeoma Enumezie, a widow, stated that her husband, Afam Enumezie, was killed for no reason. Our problem began when Igwe Oliver Nnaji was declared missing years ago. Since then, the missing monarch’s killer Pillar Youths have continued to kill our people, and the LGA chairman, Pascal, has protected them from justice. How can he intervene in a murder case under investigation by the police and bail them out? He should allow the police to do their job as a deterrent to future offenders,” she said.

Mrs Chinyere Obinna, whose son is suspected of having been killed, stated, “Pillar Youths took us to their torture camp near the river and tied my husband and son’s hands with ropes; my husband’s rope was divinely untied and he dived into the river and escaped, but my son was killed.” “Governor Soludo should please persuade Pascal to drop the case in the interest of justice and peace in the community,” she begged.

Mbakwe Ekpom Enumezie, a sibling of the alleged killed Afam Enumezie, told reporters that his elder brother, Afam, was kidnapped by some youths believed to be Pillar Youths on October 19, last year.

“When I heard about it, I called ‘Anthony Nnaji,’ and he told me that he sent the youths who kidnapped my brother.” We have not seen him since then. Police responded to the challenges by arresting Anthony Nnaji, Chibuzor, Jekwu, and another suspect, but instead of allowing the police to do their job, the council chairman went and got them on bail.”

“That means he is working with suspects in committing crimes, and he should be queried about his interest in arresting murder suspects who have even confessed to the murder of the husbands of these widows and other victims,” he disclosed.

Mrs. Loveth Ogana, wife of Okwudili Ogana, an embattled igweship contender from Ogwuaniocha, advised the council chairman to refrain from intervening in the murder case and allow justice to take its course. She emphasised that those murdered were human beings, not cows.

When contacted, council chairman Hon. Pascal Aniegbunam told reporters on the phone that he fought for the suspects’ release and that it was done in good faith to bring about peace.

” His words, In Ogbaru we have 40-man Central Strike Force with members drawn from all the communities in the council area and group was formed to checkmate crimes and criminalities in the Area and two of my men were arrested by the police over the purported murder and I had to get to the police and told them that two of my men were detained and that they help in crime fighting in Ogbaru Local Government Area.

“If there is any murder in Ogwuaniocha it is the police and Navy that should be held responsible and not members of my strike force who merely assisted the police and navy to control crime in the area. The strike force merely assist the police and Navy in the Ogbaru terrain as indigenes”.

“I am not from Ogwuaniocha and those people have been threatening fire and brimstone, that they will kill me, and so on. I can’t advise anybody to kill his brother and whenever the police need those released, they will be produced. The police are there to investigate the matter and can rearrest if need be”, he assured.