In the wake of a brutal massacre that shook the quiet town of Ogboji in Anambra State, a survivor has come forward with a harrowing eyewitness account of how armed men opened fire on a peaceful gathering of Ebonyi State indigenes, killing at least thirteen people and injuring several others.
Onuoha Godwin, a member of the Ebonyi State Welfare Association in Ogboji and a native of Inyimagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, recounted the terrifying attack from his hospital bed where he is currently being treated for multiple gunshot wounds to his stomach and hand.
In a viral video circulating on social media, Godwin, speaking in his local dialect, revealed that the attackers stormed the group’s monthly community meeting with deadly intent.
“We used to have our meeting two times a month. That day was our general meeting of Ebonyi State Welfare Association in Ogboji,” he said in a faint but determined voice. “Towards evening, when we were about to close, some people carrying guns entered. We thought they were policemen there for mass arrests. We didn’t know they came to kill.”
According to Godwin, the gunmen’s first question was chilling: “Who is Augustine Odogwu?”
Odogwu, the Chairman of the Ogboji branch of the Association, appeared to be their prime target. “They asked me what meeting we were holding. I told them it was a gathering of Ebonyi indigenes. They accused us of opposing them and shot me.”
He recounted how the assailants demanded he identify Augustine under the threat of death. “They said they’d kill everyone if we didn’t point him out. I pointed at Augustine. They brought him out and shot him immediately—then they shot me again.”
The gunmen then opened fire indiscriminately on the rest of the members, turning what was once a peaceful civic meeting into a massacre. Eleven people died on the spot. Several others were injured, with the death toll later climbing to thirteen as more victims succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
National Outrage and Demands for Justice
The brutal killings have triggered a wave of outrage across the country. Civil society organizations and the Ebonyi State Government have condemned the attack, demanding an immediate and thorough investigation.
“This is not just a tragedy for Ebonyi indigenes—it is a national disgrace and an assault on every Nigerian’s right to association and life,” a civil rights group said in a statement.
The motives behind the attack remain unclear, but early signs point to a deliberate and targeted operation against the group’s leadership.
As the nation grapples with the shock, Onuoha Godwin’s testimony serves as a haunting reminder of the unchecked violence that continues to erupt across Nigeria, and the urgent need for accountability.
