By Tony Okafor, Awka
Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the wife of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu has revealed of the existence of a mass grave in Anambra State.
She said the mass grave had been sealed off for forensic investigation.
Bianca stated this in a statement on her Facebook on Tuesday, titled : A MASS GRAVE SITE DISCOVERED IN ANAMBRA SEALED OFF FOR FORENSIC INVESTIGATION.
Stating that,”We are living in alarming and anxiety inducing times, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain prayed God to heal our land.
She said,”The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission has concluded its second phase of public hearing.
Our Commission, headed by Prof Chidi Odinkalu interrogated a total of 39 witnesses who testified on oath while 243 exhibits were collected during the course of the proceedings.
“The commission also met with 31 petitioners, including 11 organisations, 19 communities and one individual during the marathon sittings which lasted from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.
“Some 322 persons were verified as killed or dead as a result of violence as testified by the witnesses while so many are still missing or their fate not yet verified.
“18 persons have been categorically identified as missing or disappeared.
In the course of the proceedings, the gruesome discovery of a mass grave site was brought by testimonies,to the attention of the Commission.
“Chairman of the Commission Prof Chidi Odinkalu mandated that the suspected mass-grave site be sealed for forensic investigation by pathologists. This will help in unraveling who the victims were and the circumstances of their deaths.
“The TJP commission had earlier held the first phase of its public hearing between June and July this year in the course of which we considered 24 petitions and met with 48 witnesses who testified on oath from 14 communities of the State within a 10 day hearing.
Continuing, she said”The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission was constituted by Gov. Charles Soludo in June 2022 to inquire into the violent agitations, and restiveness in the state and in neighbouring states.
“A Bureau of Missing Persons as recommended by this Commission has already been established in the state to document the missing and the circumstances of their disappearance.
“We are living in alarming and anxiety inducing times.
May God heal our Land. Amen.”
