Governor of Enugu State, Chief Peter Mbah, has given security agencies in the state 48 hours to identify and apprehend the killers of Chief Stephen Aniagu, the Chairman of the Ogbete Main Market Traders Association (OMMATA).
Mbah vowed that no one would commit such a heinous crime in the state while he is in office and escape justice.
Reacting to Aniagu’s killing in a statement earlier today (Sunday, September 15), the Enugu Governor said: “My heart grieves over the brutal murder of the Chairman of OMMATA, the late Chief Stephen Aniagu. This is a sad loss, not only to OMATTA as a body, but also to the entire state.
“In the meantime, I have directed security agencies in the state to produce his killers within 48 hours. As we have always maintained, and every merchant of death or criminal in the state ought to know by now, that we have demonstrated the capacity to bring them to book.
“We have the will, technology, and resources to pursue, track down, overtake, and defeat such workers of wickedness.
“Therefore, those who committed this atrocity have bitten more than they can chew. They have murdered sleep, hence neither they nor the government and security agencies will sleep until all the perpetrators are captured and justice served in accordance with the law sooner than later.
“I urge Ndi Enugu to go about their lawful businesses, for the security of lives and property remains our priority as a government. Those who have decided to test our resolve will meet their waterloo like others before them,” Mbah stated.
Commiserating with Chief Aniagu’s family, community, and OMMATA, the Governor noted that the late market leader served his community, the association, and Enugu State creditably.
“The Government and people of Enugu State grieve with them. But I urge them to find solace in the service he rendered to our dear state and the fact that his killers will never go scot-free. It is a promise,” the Governor surmised.
Meanwhile, Enugu State Police Command in a statement on Sunday confirmed the killing of the market leader, saying police operatives are already on the trail of the assailants.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe confirmed that the victim was “shot dead by unknown gunmen at Topland, along Amechi Road, Enugu, around 8:20 p.m. of September 14, 2024.”
“A preliminary investigation reveals that the unknown armed hoodlums, operating in another Toyota Corolla car, double-crossed and shot the victim, making away with his blue-coloured Toyota Corolla car,” the police said in their statement.
“He was taken to the hospital by police operatives who hastened to the scene but was confirmed dead by doctors. His corpse was deposited in the mortuary for preservation and further investigative actions.”
According to Ndukwe, the state Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered tactical squads of the Command that are on the trail of the assailants to deploy all the intelligence and operational resources at their disposal to hunt down the criminals.
He also ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID to conduct a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances of the incident, Ndukwe added.
