Arsonists killed a local after setting about ten houses on fire early morning of Wednesday in Oruku community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The houses were reportedly burnt between December 25 and Wednesday, December 28, 2022 morning.
The palace of the late traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Emmanuel Mba, who was killed was burned on Tuesday.
Also burnt were the houses of former local government chairman, Hon. Ejike Ani, and his younger brother, Agozie Ani.
One man whose identity was yet to be ascertained was equally killed during the burning of the houses.
One of the victims, Agozie Ani, lamented that he lost everything to the inferno.
He said, “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 the Oruku – Umuode crises and he abandoned us,” Ani lamented.
Meanwhile, two videos showed burning houses said to be that of Agozie Ani and another showing a burnt house said to belong to Ejike Ani.
The arsonists were overheard calling them unprintable names.
In a video, one of the arsonists was overheard saying “this is the house of idiot Ejike Ani, the devil that brought ruin to Oruku by joining the weakling called Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. This is his house – this is the boys’ quarter, this is also his many buildings.”
“His house should also look like his own group. 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 causes all the problems we have in Oruku. We have built a story building for him now because the bungalow doesn’t fit him any longer as the former local government chairman, who is destroying the Oruku.”
In a second video showing a burning bungalow, a background voice said “Agozie Ani this is your own house. We have built two -story buildings for you. This is the house of vengeance. This is your home since you feel that there is 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 others have been boasting to deal with us but we are already dealing with you and your useless governor.”
Meanwhile, the renewed attack was sequel to a judicial panel set up by the Enugu State government to investigate the Oruku – Umuode communal conflict.
However, the findings and recommendations of the panel had since been submitted to the state government but not much has been heard about its implementation.
So far, 12 prominent persons from the community who backed Governor Ugwuanyi’s peace initiative had been eliminated and over 100 houses set ablaze since December 26, 2020.
The murderers and arsonists were suspected to be fronting for some powerful individuals including a military general involved in the protracted communal conflict in the area in the last two decades.
The state command was yet to react to the latest fracas as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said he has not been briefed on the latest development
Umoru Faruk Salifu
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umorufaruks007@gmail.com,
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