Killing of Arondizuogu’s intending couple, bombing of Ihiala LGA are despicable and horrific crimes: – says HURIWA

Calling for an immediate cessation of killings of Igbo people by unidentified gun men, the Civil Rights leading campaign group: – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked South East Governors to beef up security in local government Areas and Federal Highways that are flashpoints of the killings.

HURIWA also condemned as despicable, reprehensible and absolutely ungodly the killing of an intending Couple Mr. Martin Eremezie Ifechukwu and Miss Mba Ifeoma Gloria and the brother of the would-be groom who were slaughtered by gunmen along the Ndiejezie Arondizuogu/Okigwe Federal Highway in Imo State on Wednesday night.

HURIWA also condemned the reported bombing of Ihiala Local Government Area Secretariat in Anambra State by unidentified armed terrorists who also killed some vigilantes guarding the local government secretariat just as HURIWA wondered why it took a lot of time for armed security forces to respond to the dastardly attack.

The Rights group expressed disappointment that many innocent Igbo people are getting killed needlessly just as HURIWA said the delay to beef up security around the local government Areas, build up intelligence, arm vigilantes with sophisticated weapons and adopt other effective measures to expose the sponsors of the killings in all South East States, is a worrisome phenomenon.

HURIWA is appealing to the national authority for licensing vigilantes to bear sophisticated weapons to liberalise the process, so well trained, properly assessed and certified, crime free local vigilantes can be armed with state -of -the arts weapons to defend state- and privately-owned assets.

HURIWA has once more urged all aggrieved persons to stop shedding innocent blood, opt for peaceful negotiations because the violence is evidently turning the South East of Nigeria into killing fields whereby the blood of innocent citizens is needlessly wasted.

“There is the urgent need for all hands to be on deck with the aim of working out how to end these vicious circles of killings which are turning South East into a primitive place. We expect everyone to say enough is enough and mean it. These killings are intolerable crimes against humanity.”

HURIWA recalled that Ifechukwu Martin, a young man whose wedding was billed for January 18 was killed by gunmen alongside his fiancée Gloria Mba at Arondizuogu, in the Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State. The brother of the groom who was driving them was also killed in the attack.

A resident of the area who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said that the gruesome murder of the victims required a holistic investigation.

He called on the government to deploy more security agents to the community to forestall future recurrence.

“We complained of this reckless kidnapping, killings and burning of vehicles in Arondizuogu last year but the PPRO assured us that something was already being done about them.

“But since then, the killings and kidnappings have been an everyday event. The people of Arondizuogu did not come back for Christmas and New Year. The few that came could not move around in their cars.

“As we speak, there was a mass exodus of people from Arondizuogu this morning after this incident last night.

“We need police and army patrol in Arondizuogu-Okigwe road 24/7.

“They specialised in stealing flashy cars and killing the owner if he refuses or runs. At times, cars are burnt in the process. We are no longer safe in Arondizuogu. Students are afraid of going to school; our mothers no longer go to market for fear of the unknown. Please help us before we are finished.”

HURIWA also recalled the early hours of Thursday’s attack leading to the killing of three vigilante operatives and bombing of the secretariat of Ihiala Local Government Area of the State.

HURIWA recalled too that the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the local government was also bombed in the attack which occurred about 48 hours after a police station was also attacked.

HURIWA citing a source, said the gunmen, successfully burnt structures housing the administrative block, INEC office, Health office department, NYSC, Education department and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Office all located inside the secretariat headquarters.

HURIWA also quoted Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the Anambra Police Command confirming the attack in the statement.

He said one of the attackers was arrested.

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