Tension as Suspected Cultists Stab Youth Leader to Death in Aguileri

By Our Reporter

Residents of Umungalagu Ivite Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state have been thrown into mourning following gruesome murder of Chairman of the village’s youth task force, Mr Chukwudi Nwakwudo.

The deceased, 36 was allegedly stabbed to death by suspected members of a cult group, for enforcement of ban on smoking of Indian hemp in the village’s public square.

Chairman of the community, Dr Fidelis Ndigwe who confirmed the tragic incident, told this paper that the deceased was killed on May 21 by suspected cultists.

According to Ndigwe, one Mr Tochukwu Ifeanyi Ekwoba and his group were smoking Indian hemp openly at the village Street when the task force members confronted them.

Ndigwe further disclosed that efforts to disperse the smokers by the task force did not go down well with the suspected cultists.

He recalled: “When the deceased Chukwudi called me to inform me of what was happening, I called Ifeanyi Ekwoba on phone and asked him to go and pick his son.

“What led to what happened evolves around how Ifeanyi Ekwoba treated the matter. He couldn’t control his 19 years old son”.

An eye witness, said the cult group returned to the scene with five motorcycles carrying their members, including the biological father of the suspected gang leader, Mr Ifeanyi Ekwoba.

“As the parties were narrating the incident to Mr Ekweoba, his son Tochukwu slapped and stabbed one Chibuzor Peter, a member of the village task force and the fight continued again, in which the said Chibuzor was severally stabbed. In this second fight, the suspected cult group seemed to had overpowered members of the youths task force due to their large number in which the following persons were mentioned to had participated in the fight: Onyibor Osita Ezechukwu, Odili Chukwuma, Chiedu Raymond, Chimezie Obadiegwu and their host, a native Doctor known as Onye Amuma.

“This very fight ended up with several matchet cuts on one of the youth leaders, Chibuzor Peter.

Anambradialy further learnt that hours after the bloody fight took place, members of the village youth task force reinforced to the house of one of the host of the group known as Onye Amuma and destroyed his house windows and some property in retaliation of their member that was stabbed.

“The cult group returned later that night and launched another deadly attack on the house of the youth task force Chairman, Chukwudi Nwakwudo and stabbed him to death.

When Anambradaily reached him for confirmation of the report, the Public Relations Office of the Anambra Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said he was yet to get the report. He, however promised to get back to the paper as soon as the report reaches his desk.

Meanwhile, the President of Aguleri National Youth Association, Comrade Emeka Chinwuba who also confirmed the incident, disclosed that the killing of the Umungalagu task force Chairman came barely a week after the banning of smoking of India hemp in public places.

He stressed that his administration has zero tolerance for crimes and has ordered police to carry out a discreet investigation into the said incident.

The President General of Aguleri Community Assembly, Bar Rolex Ifeanyi Iloakasia described the deceased as a warrior adding that he was one of the youths “who contributed so much in defending their father’s land”.