Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra State, has responded to the killing of Hon. Ike Okolo, president general of the Obosi community, on January 2, 2023.
In the Obosi community, Okolo was shot to death in his car by suspected cultists. Another person was said to have been killed as well; his face was broken, making it hard to identify him.
Several communities in Anambra State have experienced a string of cult-related attacks for some time now, but the violence seemed to have increased during the holiday season.
On January 2, one man was shot to death in Awka, two people were said to have been killed in Ifite, and four men were killed in Obi Maduka’s compound in Nodu, Okpuno community, on New Year’s Day while being entertained by their host by suspected cultists.
Onyiebo Okoye, Kenechukwu Okeke, Jude Ebenezar, and Obinna Maduka were identified as the victims.
Mr. Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the Governor, decried the incidents in a press release.
“The cult-related war between rival groups and the subsequent killings in Obosi and Okpuno in the Idemili North and Awka South Council Areas, respectively, have been condemned by the State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
“Governor Soludo has assured that the perpetrators will be apprehended and decisively dealt with, even if they have fled town, and he condemns these mindless killings in the strongest terms. He emphasized that they would face the full wrath of the law if they were found.
He said that Anambra had the best Christmas in decades this year because of a new system of traffic control that was put in place by the government during the holidays. Anambra Youth Volunteers and the State traffic management agency worked 24 hours a day at all the important points to control traffic, and it was free of traffic.
“Monday, which used to be a sit-at-home day, was filled with massive outdoor activities as the state burst into activity everywhere.
He went on to say that “Governor Soludo further reassured that the cult gangs that fought today will surely be tracked down and dealt with decisively in accordance with the law,” and he concluded by saying that.