By Okey Maduforo Awka
Less than twenty four hours after suspected cultists gunned down sixteen rival members the Nibo Community in Awka South local government area of Anambra state has become a ghost town as stores and business premises closed down for fear of reprisal killings.
At the Ekeh Nibo Market commercial activities are a low key as traders did not fully open for business for the same apprehension of further killings .
A market woman; who would not want to mansion her name told reporters that the town has never seen an incident of this nature adding that most young men the town have fled their homes.
“This is bad because we have not seen a thing like this before in Nibo and most young men have left the town to an unknown destination”
“We are living in fears because we don’t know what would happen next in our town and you can see that no shop is open here” she said.
Transporters operated skeletally and cost of transportation into the hinter lands of Nibo Community has increased due to the last Sunday killings.
The Traditional Ruler of Nibo Community Igwe MC Ngene was said to be indisposed hence could not speak on the incident.
At the early hours of Monday Gov Charles Soludo paid a visit to Nibo Community.
Speaking at Eke Market during his routine monitoring of Monday activities across the state, Governor Soludo vowed to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and go against cultism in the state.
While asking the people to go about their lawful duties, the Governor emphasized that no matter where the perpetrators hide, they will be brought out for sanctioning.
He assured the people of their safety and general wellbeing.
Similarly in a release the Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochikwu Ikenga said;
“Anambra State Police Command remains committed to the ongoing investigation and to arrest the perpetrators of the cult-related killings in Nibo yesterday 20/10/2024, which recorded five persons dead and three others seriously injured and currently receiving treatment in a hospital”
“The Command also frown at the act of some deceased relatives to bury evidence, suppress information and disrupt the ongoing investigation”
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police CP Nnaghe Obono Itam today 21/10/2024 led Police Operatives to the scene on a spot assessment and Stated that the Command had redoubled its efforts to leave no stone unturned in hunting down the assailants” he said.
