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The Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has been thrown into mourning following the killing of five people, including two indigenes and three non-natives, by gunmen on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the community’s President-General, Daniel Okoye, the people of Nawfia called on the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a thorough and proper investigation into the killings, which have left the town in shock.
Although the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, had earlier described the incident as a cult-related clash, stating that eyewitnesses and local sources suggested that the victims were involved in rival cult activities, Okoye contested this narrative.
He lamented that the police response has been inadequate and urged authorities to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and restore peace to the community.
Okoye stressed that there was no evidence linking the killings to cult activity and urged the police not to jump to conclusions without conclusive proof.
The statement read in part, “On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Nawfia was plunged into mourning as gunmen stormed the town and opened fire on innocent, defenceless citizens. Five people were killed, including two indigenes, Samuel Onyebuchi Nnatuanya (26) and Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu Nwonukwue (29), both from Adagbe Mmimi village, Nawfia. The other victims were non-indigenes — one from Ukwulu, one from Ebonyi State, and another from the northern part of Nigeria.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that around 8 pm on Sunday, the assailants arrived in a Lexus RX and a Toyota Sienna and opened fire on a group of youths in the Umukwa-Umuriam area of the town before speeding off. Witnesses reported that an AK-47 rifle and a shotgun were used in the attack, which also left several people injured, including a young child.
“The leadership of Nawfia mourns the senseless murder of our indigenes and residents, cut down in the prime of their lives. We will not rest until those responsible for this cowardly act are exposed and brought to justice,” Okoye said, calling for calm and patience from the community amidst the spreading of unverified theories regarding the attack.”
He urged community members and the general public not to draw premature conclusions, as there was no evidence to suggest that the killers were from a neighbouring town or that the incident was related to cult activity.
“We call on the Nigerian Police to conduct a proper and thorough investigation. So far, the response has been inadequate. We urge the authorities to do everything within their power to track down these killers and restore peace to our town,” he added.
When contacted for an update, Ikenga confirmed that a joint patrol involving operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad is ongoing in the area in a bid to arrest the gunmen.
However, he did not confirm if any arrests had been made.
“The incident, which occurred around 8:25 pm on Sunday, is suspected to be a cult clash. Upon arriving at the scene, security operatives found four young men lying lifeless in pools of blood with multiple gunshot wounds.
“Eyewitness accounts suggest that the victims were involved in nefarious activities and were engaged in a rivalry with another cult group in the area,” Ikenga said.
He added that security operations have been intensified in the area to prevent further violence and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
