Gunmen attacked the Okija community in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State on Sunday night, resulting in the death of two individuals and the abduction of another. The incident, which occurred around 9pm, caused tension in the area.
Among the victims was Peter Awa, the Secretary-General of the Okija Progressive Union and a lawyer, who was killed in the market square of his Umudioka village. Another victim, Izuchukwu Igwenagha, known as Onwa, was murdered in his Isieke village. The third person, a businessman, was kidnapped at Nkwo Okija while driving home from a function.
The motive behind the attacks appears to be related to a land dispute, according to some sources. Okija, known for its security architecture, was considered one of the most secure communities in Anambra State, attracting visitors from neighboring communities for burials and weddings.
The Okija Secretary, who was elected in 2023, had recently survived an attempted kidnapping of his wife in Ihiala. He had attended a village meeting shortly before his murder.
While the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, was unavailable for comment, security operatives have been deployed to the area to address the situation.
