BREAKING: Gunmen attack Oruku, Enugu community again, one killed, another wounded NEWS

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BREAKING: Gunmen attack Oruku, Enugu community again, one killed, another wounded

By AdvocateNews on 12/06/2021

THE communal conflict in Oruku community in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu State is yet to be settled as some gunmen launched a fresh attack Saturday morning killing one person and injuring another.

The person shot dead was identified as Mr. Okechukwu Ogbodo, chairman of Aguikpa Neighborhood Watch, who was passing through Oruku to his Aguikpa autonomous community, while one Donatus Ani, a native of Oruku was shot on the leg, according to reports from the community.

The renewed attack came two days after the military personnel deployed to the area following the last conflict that claimed the life of the traditional ruler of Oruku, Igwe Emmanuel Mba, were reportedly withdrawn on Thursday leaving only five policemen behind in the community.

Ani was rushed to State Criminal Investigation Department of Enugu State Police command by Chief Linus Nwatu, Chairman of Oruku Caretaker Committee and some people from Oruku after the incident Saturday morning.

Residents of Oruku, who woke up in the early hours of Saturday were thrown into confusion and panic as heavy sound of gunfire rented the air.

“We thought that another war has started because there were sporadic shootings and we couldn’t understand what was happening until we came out of our houses and discovered two persons in the pool of their own blood. Mr. Okechukwu Nwatu from Aguikpa was already dead while Donatus Ani was bleeding profusely from the gunshot wound on his leg. He was immediately rushed to Enugu for treatment. He is at the state Police CID as I am talking to you waiting for police report to be moved to the hospital,” a native of Oruku, told The Advocate on phone.

Ogbodo was among those who submitted memorandum at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration to investigate and ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the crisis that erupted in Oruku, which led to the killing of the community’s traditional ruler, Igwe Emmanuel Mba in December last year.

Sources said the Aguikpa Neighborhood Watch chairman, who had in his memorandum to the commission given a detailed account of the lingering crisis in Oruku and fingered those responsible for the communal conflict, may have been listed as a target by some powerful persons sponsoring the crisis.

Those who spoke on the new development said further hostility in community would have been averted had the state government implemented the recommendations of the Justice Harold Eya-led Judicial Commission, which submitted its report to Governor Ugwuanyi in April, this year.

Insider sources disclosed that the commission recommended that all those responsible for the crisis and murder of the traditional ruler should be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to those sponsoring the crisis but the government has not acted on the report and no reason has been given for keeping it in abeyance.

Many had argued that a lasting peace would not return to the community until the state government takes a decisive action to sanction those responsible for the endless bloodletting and arson in the area.

Efforts to speak with the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe on the incident proved abortive as he did not pick the calls put across to his phone.

Posted 12/06/2021 10:17:43 AM

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