ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, has condemned the recent assassination of Chief Stephen Aniagu, the Chairman of the Ogbete Main Market Traders Association (OMMATA).
In a strongly worded statement, Nwoye expressed his deep sorrow and outrage over the killing, which took place in broad daylight, and highlighted the growing trend of political and community leaders being targeted by criminals in Enugu State.
Nwoye in the statement issued on Wednesday, lamented the failure of security agencies to apprehend the killers, pointing out that the 48-hour deadline given by Governor Peter Mbah, to solve the crime had expired with no arrests or significant leads.
He expressed his frustration with the recurring lack of action, stating, “All we hear is the same old statement: ‘we are on top of the situation,’ ‘the killers will be brought to justice.’ Yet, no justice has been served.”
Recalling similar incidents, Nwoye shared his personal experience of surviving an assassination attempt in 2018.
While he narrowly escaped, his police orderly was critically wounded, shot in the temple, and only survived due to prompt medical intervention.
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Despite the severity of the attack, there were no arrests or prosecutions, mirroring the outcome of other tragic incidents in Enugu State.
Nwoye further referenced the killings of Kelvin Ezeoha and Chidera Ogaba, who were gunned down during an APC meeting, and the pre-election murder of Barr. Oyibo Chukwu and his driver in 2023.
Their bodies were set ablaze, yet the security agencies have failed to deliver on their promises to bring the culprits to justice.
Similarly, the driver of Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo was also killed the same day as Chukwu, and months later, Hon. Chief Dons Udeh was tragically murdered. Despite a N5 million reward offered by former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for information leading to Udeh’s killers, the case remains unsolved.
With Chief Aniagu’s death coming just one week before the local government elections, Nwoye voiced his disillusionment with the ongoing violence and the authorities’ inability to address it.
“Enugu people must rise up to the occasion,” he said, calling on the community to play a role in solving these crimes.
Nwoye who emphasized that security agencies cannot work alone, urged witnesses to come forward with information.
He condemned the “conspiracy of silence” that he believes allows the killers to continue their violent rampage. “NdiEnugu cannot pretend not to know the killers of our leaders,” Nwoye said, adding that the gunmen responsible are from within the community.
He said, “Someone reading this knows who killed Chief Barr. Oyibo Chukwu, his driver, and the others. The conspiracy of silence must end now.”
He also stressed on the importance of standing up against the violence that has plagued the state and ensuring that no more lives are lost to senseless assassinations.