Igbo Radio

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The Lawmaker representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency in the Marital Assembly, Hon. Princess Chinwe Clara Nnabuife, has condemned in strong terms the recent tragic incident at Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where no fewer than ten persons lost their lives in a violent attack during a meeting of the Ebonyi community in the town.

Addressing newsmen at the National Assembly Press Centre, Abuja, on Thursday, Hon. Nnabuife described the attack as horrific and an assault on the collective humanity of Nigerians. She lamented the cold-blooded murder of innocent citizens and vowed to ensure that justice is served. According to her, no Nigerian citizen deserves to be killed under any circumstance, and such an act must not go unanswered.

Hon. Nnabuife revealed that preliminary findings from survivors, eyewitnesses, community leaders, and security operatives pointed to an internal leadership dispute within the Ebonyi Union in Ogboji as the root cause of the tragedy. She explained that credible reports indicated that the crisis within the union, which had escalated over time, allegedly led to the invitation of external armed elements that carried out the deadly attack. She further clarified that the incident was not an ethnic or communal conflict, but rather an intra-group crisis among members of the same ethnic background. The Federal lawmaker commended the Ebonyi community in Ogboji for their longstanding peaceful coexistence with their host community and urged the public not to misrepresent the nature of the unfortunate event.

Further details, she said, were provided by the President General of the Ogboji Town Union and corroborated by other concerned residents. According to these accounts, the leadership crisis had reached a climax in March 2025 following a formal petition submitted by the chairman and seven members of the union against the operations of a splinter group that had broken away with vital union materials, including the minute book, financial records, cash, and other valuables. The splinter group, she added, had distanced itself from the parent body publicly, leading to heightened tensions that culminated in the attack.

The lawmaker went on to praise the prompt intervention of the Ogboji Town Union, local vigilante groups, and community stakeholders, who swiftly moved to stabilise the situation, evacuate victims for medical care, and arrange for the burial and welfare of the deceased. She also commended the maturity, calm, and restraint exhibited by members of the Ebonyi community in Ogboji despite the profound loss they suffered.

While calling for calm, Hon. Nnabuife urged relevant security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and both the Anambra and Ebonyi State Governments, to launch a full, transparent, and impartial investigation into the incident. She stressed the need for those behind the heinous act to be identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice, noting that democracy cannot thrive amidst impunity.

The House of Reps member, Hon. Nnabuife, further called on the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to urgently provide relief assistance, medical support, and psychological care to the bereaved families and injured survivors. She also appealed to Nigerians, particularly the media and social media users, to desist from spreading misinformation or inflammatory narratives capable of worsening the situation. She emphasised that this was a time for sober reflection, solidarity, and a collective commitment to truth and justice.

Hon. Nnabuife concluded by extending her deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the people of Ebonyi State, and the peaceful residents of Ogboji. She reaffirmed her commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring that such a tragic incident does not recur; even as she expressed hope for peace and justice to reign in Ogboji, Anambra State, and Nigeria at large.