The first victim was a priest, the second a local council secretary, and the third a head nurse. CHRIS OJI reports how, in two weeks, three high-profile murders were committed in Enugu State, once regarded as one of the safest in the country
Reputed to be the most peaceful and safest state in Nigeria, Enugu State within the last two weeks has recorded three high profile murders that have thrown the residents into panic.
First on the line of the murders was a Catholic cleric, Rev. Fr. Clement Ugwu who was abducted around 9pm on March 13. He was shot and taken to an unknown destination by his abductors.
This happened at the gate of his church, St Mark Catholic Church, Obinofia Ndiuno, Ezeagu local council. He was the parish priest.
He was reported to have been shot on the leg before he was forcefully taken away.
After a frantic search by some local residents in collaboration with the Enugu Diocese, the parent diocese, for a whole week, his already decomposing body was found in the bush about 20km from his parish where he was abducted.
The abductors were said to have demanded N50 million ransom which they later reduced to N20 million. Nobody knew exactly what happened. The decomposing body was recovered and buried at the priests burial ground at the Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu amidst tears after a requiem mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Reverend Callistus Onaga.
Visibly distraught, Bishop Onaga said he personally visited the police in Enugu three times seeking for urgent help to rescue the priest “but they kept on telling me they are on top of the situation and closing in on the kidnappers.”
Although the priest could not be rescued by the police, the police have got a clue that would eventually lead to the arrest of the killers of the man of God.
Enugu State commissioner of police, Suleiman Balarabe told reporters that the killers have been using the slain priest’s ATM card to withdraw money from his account.
Chairman of Ezzeagu Local Government Area Chief Chukwudi Ezinwa who also hails from Obinofia community condemned the murder.
He noted that it was the first of its kind in the community, insisting that the people must dig deep to wash their hands off the murder.
Ezinwa who said he was in the village on the day of the incident recalled that they heard a gunshot and rushed to the parish house where they discovered that the priest had been abducted and driven away in his own vehicle.
He noted that the community immediately mobilised a search party which found his decomposed body about one week after.
He described the deceased as a gentleman who didn’t have issues with parishioners and urged the police to get to the root of the matter so that culprits would be brought to book.
The second high profile killing was that of the secretary of the Uzo Uwani Local Council in Enugu State who doubles as a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
He was allegedly shot dead by herdsmen around Olo town in Ezeagu local council of Enugu State.
The late secretary identified as Dr Nnamdi Ogueche was said to have gone for a peace talk between communities and the herdsmen that have been terrorizing parts of Uzo-Uwani local government area in the recent past.
It was gathered that the council secretary was in company of three others in a vehicle were returning from the peace meeting when the alleged herdsmen attacked their vehicle.
There was stampede and uneasy tension while the occupants of the vehicle jumped out in different directions for safety.
The assailants were said to have pursued the council scribe shooting him in the process.
The fate of the other three occupants of the vehicle was yet to be known at the time of this report while the immediate cause of the killing of the council scribe has not been established as confusion, fear and heightened tension engulfed the entire local government area.
Contacted for comment over the killing, the chairman Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area Mr. Fidelis Ani confirmed the killing of the council scribe along Olo community road while returning from a peace meeting, adding that immediate cause of the killing has not been ascertained but entry has been lodged at Ezzeagu police division at Aguobu Owa for investigations.
Enugu State commissioner of police Sulaiman Balarabe who confirmed the incident during a press briefing said there was an ambush against the deceased.
He confirmed that three people have been arrested in connection with the murder.
The CP declined to confirm the involvement of herdsmen until after investigations.
The third high profile killing during the period was that of the Head of Nursing Services at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu Mrs Mary Amadi who was gunned down by unknown assailants.
She was reportedly shot dead in front of her house at the Federal Housing Estate, Abakpa Enugu.
She was said to have closed from work and got to her house, and was about to open the gates when she was shot by her assailants who made a U-turn and sped off.
She was said to have been rushed to Parklane Hospital, where doctors battled unsuccessfully to save her life.
The deceased who worked at Parklane Teaching Hospital, Enugu later moved to the State Ministry of Health before she got appointed Head of Nursing Services at the Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu.
The mother of two is said to be studying for her doctorate degree before her death.
A statement by Enugu Police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu on the matter read: “The Enugu state commissioner of police Sulaiman Balarabe has expressed displeasure on the reported murder of Mary Amadi at Federal Housing axis of Trans Ekulu.
“Following the development, she was subsequently rushed to ESUT Parklane Hospital for medical attention and was later confirmed dead.
“On receipt of the report, the commissioner of police Sulaiman Balarabe has directed the state Criminal Investigations Department Enugu state to commence a full scale investigation which has given birth to the arrest of two vital suspects in connection with the incident.
“The suspects are now helping the operatives in their investigations.
“The commissioner of police has further assured that all the people linked to the said crime will be arrested, investigated and be brought to book just as manhunt on the remaining fleeing suspects have been intensified.”