The Nigerian House of Representatives says it will investigate the cases of assassinations and killings in Enugu state, Southern Nigeria.
This followed a petition titled “Urgent Appeal for The House Of Representatives Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria To Use Its Oversight Function In Resolving Cases Of Multiple Assassinations And Senseless Killings In Amechi And Obeagu Awkunanaw Communities For The Interest Of Justice, Law And Order” submitted to the House by Hon Atu Chimaobi Sam, representing Enugu north and South Federal Constitutuency.
Hon. Sam brought to the notice of the Speaker, Tajuddeen Abbas, the “series of atrocities, criminal activities and other vices leading to the murder of several of our community members by a group of murderers and hirelings who are obviously being shielded or whose cases appear to have been swept under the carpet by the police for inexplicable reasons.”
Adding that “in some cases where arrests are made, the real murderers are intentionally overlooked while some innocent members of our communities are hounded into custody and charged to court in a surreptitious effort to distract attention and circumvent the law”.
He said that following series of earlier murders and the assassination of one Sunday Ngene of Obeagu Awkunanaw community sometime in December 2022, the traditional ruler of the Obeagu Awkunanaw community, HRH Igwe Mike Nnukwu, (JP) had cause to author a petition to the Inspector General of Police, praying for the investigation and prosecution of those indicted and or suspected to have allegedly committed the murder.
“Upon approval of the said petition, the principal suspect, was arrested by the Zone 13 Zonal CID Ukpo. On interrogation, a can of worms was opened exposing the facts behind the assassination of the referenced Sunday Ngene, as well as further shocking revelations into other previous cases of assassination and criminalities in and around our communities dating back to 2015, and highlighting that they were principally orchestrated by several individuals working at the behest of certain other sponsors. Despite not getting full disclosure of the individuals and their sponsors, we are however in the know that the ZCID, Zone 13, Ukpo-Dunukofia, Anambra State have uncovered the identities of a great number of the individuals concerned and that some of the said suspects are said to be on the run. We can now surmise Sir, that the disclosures made by the said principal suspect showed that other cases of murder such as the murder of one Inspector Celestine Oriodovwe of Force CID Annex Enugu, who was investigating sundry allegations of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms etc. against the same set of suspects, till he was kidnapped, killed and his vehicle set ablaze in Amechi Uwani community, was perpetrated by these same suspects and others still at large,” the petition alleged.
Hon Sam therefore prayed that the Speaker “to Interface with all persons of interest especially with the prime suspect in the murder cases as well as with the investigating police officers from Zone 13, Zonal Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force with a view to unmasking the underlying conspiracy. Direct and facilitate the conclusion of investigation of all the murder cases listed above and Moreso, of the check-point assassinations of on-duty security personnel within Enugu metropolis,” among other measures.
He noted that the community is convinced that the Speaker’s constitutionally guaranteed oversight functions has the capacity to intervene and call the police to order, to act professionally within the ambits of the law, or be held liable for the consequences of their actions or inactions and are therefore requesting the Speaker to come to their aid, speedily, in the interest of justice.
