The President-General of the Nawfia community in Anambra State’s Njikoka Local Government Area, Chief Daniel Okoye, and the traditional ruler, Igwe Daniel Obelle, have condemned the Monday attack at the Agu-Isioye community axis of Enugu-Ukwu and Ifite Nawfia, which killed four people.
The killings occurred when some youths and indigenes of the Agu-Isioye community were invited to a land by some yet-to-be-identified armed hoodlums under the guise of buying the land, only to be rounded up by the armed assailants, who opened fire on them, killing four people instantly while injuring others.
This occurrence elicited a variety of emotions, with accusing fingers pointed at members of the Nawfia community who were charged with the supposed conduct.
Agu-Isioye, where the Monday attack occurred, is located on the border of Nawfia and Enugwu-Ukwu.
In response to the occurrence, Nawfia community leaders issued a joint press statement on Tuesday strongly condemning the attack on Agu-Isioye and the use of violence to settle conflicts, characterizing the attack as a “abomination of the highest order”.
They claimed that Nawfia town promotes peace and discussion, and that its residents are law-abiding citizens who respect due process.
The leaders chastised an Enugwu-Ukwu citizen (name withheld) for making “hasty insinuations” that the perpetrators of the crime were from Nawfia before conducting a thorough police investigation.
They regarded the insinuations as “inciteful, prejudicial, provocative, specious, and insensitive” to Ndi Nawfia’s sensibilities, with the intention of causing tension for unclear reasons.
The statement continued, “Our inquiry found no evidence of Nawfia involvement in the violent episode.
“The unwholesome activities of land grabbers and speculators on the Agu Anaocha axis have been documented and brought to the attention of the Anambra State government for necessary action.”
In addition, the statement expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and wished those in the hospital a speedy recovery.
The leaders prayed for the souls of the fallen to rest in peace and implored that such a heinous tragedy would not happen again.
The leaders urged law authorities to intervene and arrest the criminals and their supporters in order to deter future criminal activity.
