Pascal Arogorn Ibe
MEMBERS of the Seven-Day Adventist Church in Azia, Anambra State, could not have expected the tragedy that took place in the church on Wednesday, February 3. Unknown gunman invaded the church while the mid-week service was going on and murdered husband, wife and daughter from one family in cold blood while the fourth person, sustained serious injury.
The affected persons are Kenneth Emekwasianya, 70, Grace Emekwasianya, 56, his wife, Chioma Emekwasianya, their daughter, 36, and Emeka Ntukokwu, 42, a secondary school teacher.
Kenneth was a businessman based in Azia, Grace, a headmistress at Ubom Community Primary School, Azia, while Chioma was a post graduate student at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra State.
Realnews gathered that a masked gunman came with a motorcycle, popularly called Okada, to the church, walked inside and rained bullets on the affected persons after collecting the keys of Mercedes C Class car from Kenneth.
A source told Realnews that even though the gunman came alone, his cohorts were apparently waiting nearby and they sped off with Kenneth’s car.
However, the car, which developed gear problem, was abandoned in Okija, a neighbouring town to Azia. Realnews learnt that vigilante men in Azia spotted the abandoned car and alerted the police.
It was gathered that the perpetrators of the heinous act left a note stating that Kenneth was killed because he collected the money the Niger Delta Power Holding Company paid to the community as compensation for destruction of economic tree and other structures while the company implemented the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, in Azia. Part of the note read: “Keep on running but you cannot hide all the time. You took our money.”
But Realnews gathered that the police think that the note was just a diversionary tactic on the part of the assailants.
The Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force in Ihiala, Anambra State, swung into action immediately the incident was reported on Wednesday to fish out the culprits.
Also, on Thursday morning, John Abang, the outgoing commissioner of police, in Awka, sent reinforcement from the Anambra Police Command to Ihiala to investigate the incident.
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