In what looks like a retaliatory attack, Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has been thrown into mourning following an early morning attack on Sunday by unknown gunmen, which left no fewer than five persons dead.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, operating in a Siena bus and a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), invaded the community and opened fire on the young men and fled the scene immediately.
An eyewitness disclosed that scores hit by bullets, including a child, are still battling for their lives in an undisclosed hospital within the area.
Confirmed dead in the attack are Samuel Onyebuchi Nnatuanya, 26; Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu Nwonukwue, 29, one Auwal Ahmed and two other persons whose identities could not be ascertained as at press time.
Though Anambra State Police Command in a preliminary investigation described the incident as a cult related attack, the Nwafia community insists it was a premeditated assassination.
Early last month, four persons were killed in the neighbouring town of Enugwu-Ukwu by unknown gunmen in an incident which triggered accusations and denials between Enugwu-Ukwu and Nwafia.
Commentators from Enugwu-Ukwu had suggested then that the killers of the four persons came from Nawfia and had committed the murders over a land dispute, a charge that both the Igwe and the President of the town union denied.
There are fears that the Sunday morning killing of five young men in Nawfia must come as a reprisal attack.
But explaining that the killings were the result of a cult clash, the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ikenga disclosed that operatives from Nimo Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call at about 8:25 am on Sunday about a cult clash in the community.
“The operatives upon arriving at the scene, found four lifeless bodies of young men in a pool of blood with suspected multiple gunshot injuries lying on the road. The victims were confirmed dead by a doctor on duty and have been deposited in a morgue.
However, President-General of Nawfia Community, Daniel Okoye described the incident as a senseless murder of Nawfia children by yet to be identified assailants, calling on the police to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.
“Nawfia Progressive Union and town leaders will do everything in our power to expose the animals who did this. We also urge calm and patience from our people. Many stories and theories have been formed despite lack of evidence to prove them. As of now, there is no indication that the killers were sent from a neighboring town. There’s also no proof to support that the killings were cult-related,” he said.
“We will not rule out any party at this point and will not jump to any conclusions. We plead with Ndi Nawfia and the general public to do the same and call on the Nigeria Police to do a proper and thorough investigation.
“So far, their response and approach have been inadequate. They should do all in their power to seek out and apprehend these serial killers and bring peace back to our environs.”
