There was pandemonium in Oruku community in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State on Wednesday morning, as militants allegedly burnt 10 houses.
Among the houses burnt on Tuesday and early hours of Wednesday were those of the murdered traditional ruler, Igwe Emmanuel Mba; former local government chairman, Ejike Ani and his younger brother, Agozie Ani.
The warring group also shot and killed one man on Christmas Day in his house.
Decrying the incident, Mr Agozie Ani told SaharaReporters that everything in his house was razed down.
“Over 10 houses were burnt in Oruku from 25th December 2022, including my own, Hon. Ejike Ani and the late Igwe Emmanuel Mba’s houses.
“They also shot and killed one man on Christmas Day. Our crime was supporting Gov. Ugwuanyi’s peace deal on Oruku – Umuode crises and he abandoned us,” Ani lamented.
In a video released on Wednesday morning, the arsonists were overheard saying “This is house of idiot Ejike Ani, the devil that brings ruin to Oruku by joining the weakling called Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“This is his house – this is boys’ quarters, this is also his building. We have built him a new house so that his house will look like his own group. He is a human being. This one is the second building. He is the one that caused all the problems we have in Oruku. We have built a storey building for him now because the bungalow doesn’t fit him any longer as the former local government chairman, who is destroying the community.”
In a second video, showing a burning bungalow, the background voice was overheard saying “Agozie Ani this is your own house. We have built two-storey building for you. This is the house of the vengeance. This is your home since you feel that there was no strength, we want to show you that there’s strength.
“This is the beginning, you will stay outside to come and implement your governor’s peace. You and your men have been boasting to deal with us but we are already dealing with you and your governor.”
