Enugu community sue senate over alleged killings by soldiers

The people of Eke community in Udi Local Council of Enugu State have called for the intervention of the Senate following the alleged killing of a member of the community’s vigilance group and a woman by officers of the Nigerian Army.

In a petition to the Senate President, the Eke Progressive Forum (EPF) sought an investigation into the incident that led to the cold-blooded double murder on the night of June 29, 2023, by the soldiers.

The tragedy reportedly happened when the local vigilance group responded to a distress call from victims of a robbery.The EPF petition dated July 4, 2023, and submitted to the President of the Senate through the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu, demanded an open investigation and prosecution of the soldiers involved in the dastardly act, if found culpable.

Aside from submitting the petition to the Senate, Ngwu, the successor of the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, reminded the upper chamber that his predecessor, who served the nation as a five-time senator (and as three-time Deputy Senate President), was still being held in the United Kingdom.

The petition entitled, “Unwarranted Killings and Attack on Eke Neighbourhood Guards by Officers of the Nigerian Army in Eke, Udi Local Council of Enugu State: Appeal for Intervention and Justice,” made available to The TrackNews , yesterday, read: “We humbly seek your attention and kind intervention on the gruesome murder of Eke Neighbourhood Guards by three officers of the Nigerian Army when they embarked on the rescue of victims of robbery attack in Eke in the evening hours of Thursday, June 29, 2023.

“Prompted by the intelligence report of robbery attack along Eke Road, our Neighbourhood Guards had intimated the Divisional Police Officer at Ninth Mile Police, Enugu State and had mobilised to the venue, after the assurance of the DPO that the police was also mobilising to the incident venue.

Meanwhile, the group also appealed to the Senate President to investigate the incident, saying: “Kindly use your good offices to investigate this matter and ensure justice for the dead victims and members of the battered and maimed Neighbourhood Vigilante team and other victims.”

Continuing, the group said: “Surprisingly, the Neighbourhood Guards team met three soldiers that confronted them and opened fire on them at close range even after they identified themselves with their identity cards and uniforms. The shooting was in defiance of the pleading and clarification of the guards that they were (members of) the neighbourhood vigilante.

“It took the spirited intervention of the Ninth Mile policemen to get the soldiers to stop their offensive and assaults on the Guards. The Neighbourhood Guards did not also resist the soldiers when they asked them to stop advancing to the incident venue.

“The soldiers had shot and killed a vigilante member, Mr. Ebuka Oke, while two others were taken to the hospital for treatment and resuscitation. The three wounded members are Mr. Obinwa Ofor, Mr. Chinedu Okoro, and Mr. Emeka Anigbo.

“Also dead was Mrs. Nkechi Udegbunam, who was a resident at Enugu Eke, brutally shot together with her husband, Mr. Izuchukwu Udegbunam, by the soldiers. Both were on a motorcycle to Eke during the incident. Mrs. Nkechi Udegbunam died on the spot while her husband is still receiving treatment and in critical condition.

“The pains and experiences of the Eke Neighbourhood Vigilante team were so devastating and cruel. We cannot understand the reason for the callous killing and maiming of the innocent vigilante members when they had identified themselves and were out to rescue citizens. More importantly, they had alerted the police before embarking on the rescue operation.”

Aside from submitting the petition to the Senate, Ngwu, the successor of the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, reminded the upper chamber that his predecessor, who served the nation as a five-time senator (and as three-time Deputy Senate President), was still being held in the United Kingdom. He noted that the incarceration of Ekweremadu, for more than 380 days now, is a burden on the Federal Government.

“The onus is on the Senate to take positive steps towards his case,” Ngwu further stated.