Tension has risen in Ayamelum local government area of Anambra state following gruesome murder of Mr Okoye Tagbo, a middle-aged farmer by yet-to-be identified assailants. The deceased remains was found in a shallow grave near the scene of the attack with head, heart, hands, feet and genital missing, fuelling speculation that he was murdered by warlords from neighbouring Anaku community.
Anaku and Omor communities have remained at daggers’ drawn over ownership claims of the disputed border farmland. Amidst efforts to resolve the lingering land tussle, abduction and killing of Omor indigens by suspected Anaku youths have continued to ignite tension with the recent incident in mid-May 2021 culminating in wanton destruction of property in both communities.
Mr Tagbo who hails from Umuokpanta, Orenja village in Omor was said to have gone to his farm close to the disputed farmland near Anaku-Omor boundary to harvest cassava on January 10, 2022 and never returned. The family reportedly raised alarm when the widower with nine children failed to return at nightfall, forcing the village to launch frantic search for him.
This paper learnt that eventual discovery of Mr Tagbo’s headless body in a shallow grave inside his farm with vital organs, including hands, feet and genital missing sent shockwaves across Omor community. “We found Tagbo buried in a shallow grave in the farm where he was harvesting cassava. The dead body, which we exhumed in the presence of police and military operatives that joined us in the search was without head, genital organ, hands and legs and the heart”, a close relative of the deceased, High Chief Johnson Ifejika disclosed.
According to him, the decapitated body of the victim has been deposited in the mortuary while the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Anaku, ordered Anaku leaders to produce the suspects behind the murder.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Omor kingdom, HRH Igwe Dr Chris Oranu Chidume, has condemned the constant abduction and killing of Omor indigenes by suspected Anaku people for alleged ritual sacrifices. “This continuous killing of Ndi-Omor is certainly not a welcomed development. I condemn it in totality and so should every well-meaning citizen of Ayamelum because it’s an ill-wind that blows no one good.
“I’m equally ceasing this opportunity to appeal to Ndi-Anaku to do away with this their Ekwensu deity that was demanding for human sacrifice. It’s not a modern religious practice and this constant killing of people is enough reason for them to abolish it and am also appealing to the government to consider abolishing the shrine.
Eze Anaukwu also appealed to his subjects to refrain from any revenge attack over the incident. “I am thanking Ndi-Omor for being calm in the face of this provocation and at the same time appealing to them to remain calm, trusting the Anambra state government, ably led by His Excellency, Chief Dr. Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano to do justice to this matter so that sustainable peace can return in the area. Nobody should take laws into his hand. It does not pay to do so.
“To the family that lost their breadwinner, I condole with them and ask them to take heart that God will be with them, while we continue to hope that government will do the needful”, the monarch adds.
It was gathered that tension escalated in the area following speculations that Omor youths had mobilized themselves to launch a revenge attack against Anaku people over Tagbo’s killing. While some Anaku residents reportedly fled their homes to avoid being caught, a youth leader from Ikenga Village, Anaku reportedly went to police to lodge a formal complaint over the purported Omor invasion of Anaku. They were equally said to have submitted list of some suspects behind the farmers’ death.
Latest investigation, however show that security operatives have maintained conspicuous presence in the area to avert a violent retaliation of the gruesome murder of Mr Tagbo.
