Unknown gunmen said to be numbering about six at about 11pm on Saturday night invaded Umudunu village, Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State and gunned down Mr Chinenye Ikedimma, an aide to the renowned business mogul, Prince (Engr.) Arthur Eze.
THISDAY gathered that some other persons at the scene where left with various degrees of gunshot injuries too.
Ikedimma, whose corpse has been deposited at Bekee Hospital’s mortuary in Nimo, was an assistant on local affairs to Chief Innocent who is the Personal Assistant to the oil magnet, Arthur Eze.
Some of the villagers told journalists that the killing might not be unconnected to the ongoing communal battle between Abagana and Ukpo communities over a piece of land which has claimed scores of lives and property worth several millions of naira.
An indigene of Abagana who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Abagana people believe that our people working with Arthur Eze who hails from Ukpo and other prominent persons in that community might be giving them information on the plans Abagana people have on their ongoing tussle with Ukpo over a piece of land. So the option, as being speculated, was to ‘address’ their matter one by one.”
Mr Kenneth Obi Ajaegbo who sustained gunshot injury at his left knee told reporters that he was returning from somewhere before the gunmen attacked.
“I ran home immediately they shot at us. It was when I got home that I discovered that I was shot at the knee. Blood was everywhere. My brother and I went to the Police Station immediately to give report before coming to this hospital. It was at the police station that we learnt that the aide to Personal Assistant to Prince (Engr.) Arthur Eze was shot dead as his sister also came to the police to give report,” he said.
The state Police Commissioner, Sam Okaula when contacted on phone said, “This is an isolated case. It is a case of murder somewhere in the village. And it is only one person that was injured and my area commander has visited him in the hospital. Maybe he had some issues with somebody or so. But the police are on it and must smoke out the culprits.”
He however said that the incidence has no connection with the land tussle between Ukpo and Abagana communities.
