Anambra village under siege as gunmen kidnap, rape, brutalise citizens

BY OZO RAY,  Awka

Heinous crimes are allegedly being perpetrated at Obuofia village Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State by bandits.

It is reported that the villagers have deserted Obuofia because the daredevil hoodlums kidnapped, raped women and brutalise citizens freely without response from security agencies.

Investigations reveal that concerned citizens of Obuofia village Aguluezechukwu have appealed to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to come to the rescue of the village as Obuofia has been under siege for the past three years with all forms of criminal activities being perpetrated on daily basis, ranging from kidnapping, raping, extortions and a host of others.

For years now, Obuofia citizens find it extremely difficult to return to their ancestral home during Christmas and other festive periods for fear of being kidnapped or killed.

Further investigations revealed that most of Obuofia village men have been abducted and murdered in cold blood by the bandits called unknown gunmen. It is said that the likes of Mr. Azubuike Ezenwabachili, Mr. Odili Chukwuka, Mr. Fabian Ezeobi and some others were said to be victims of gruesome murder by the kidnappers.

It is also reported that Obuofia village women are not spared as they have been victims of rape and other vices unleashed on them by the criminal elements on daily basis.

The villagers are said to be helpless as they besiege Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to help flush out unknown gunmen out of Obuofia.

They have also appealed to the governor to establish a Police Post or Army Checkpoint in Obuofia to serve as a means of deterring unknown gunmen from further occupying the town.

Obuofia villagers further appealed to Governor Soludo to question His Royal Highness, Igwe Felix Ebelendu, his cabinet and the President-General of Aguluezechukwu, Mr. JohnPaul Ezenwaka for their deliberate silence over the criminal activities in their domain even as they begged the governor to help them reclaim their town from unknown gunmen.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Obuofia village, Mr. John Ezeobi, when contacted by this journalist, confirmed that the criminal activities perpetrated by daredevil gunmen in the area were yet to be addressed.

Although the President-General of the community, Mr. JohnPaul Ezenwaka, when contacted, said that stories of Obuofia village being surrounded by unknown gunmen were mere falsehoods intended to tarnish the image of the town.

But the traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Igwe Felix Ebelendu, on his part, mandated this journalist to seek any information he needed about insecurity in Obuofia village from the Commissioner of Police Anambra State.