Anambra Killings: Police visit scene, arrest one Suspect

By Okey Maduforo 

Forty eight hours after ten Ebonyi citizens were killed by gunmen at Ogboji in Orumba South local government area of Anambra state, one suspect has so far been arrested in connection with the dastardly act.

It was equally gathered that one of the victims of the attack who also lost his life is tenant in the building were the incident occured.

Also it has been confirmed the Ebonyi Community in Ogboji had parallel leaderships which had thrown them into crisis and one of the factional leadership had petitioned the President General of Ogboji over the matter without recourse to security operatives in the area .

However, the President General of Ogboji had commenced alternative conflict resolution process before the unfortunate incident occured.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga who accompanied the Police Commissioner Ikioye Orutugu on a fact finding mission, he stated in a release that:

"The Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS PhD today 2nd July 2025, led a Joint Security Team comprising the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other sister agencies to the scene where 10 (ten) people were murdered in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area. He also confirmed the arrest of a male suspect, Sunday Mbanu who is currently assisting the Police in their investigation.

"The CP, however, reiterates that the incident is not a targeted attack on any indigene of any State, but a cowardly action of the common enemies of the State.

"During the interaction with some stakeholders of the Community, including the Traditional Prime Minister, President General of the Ogboji Community and the son of the landlord where the meeting was held/the crime scene, some revelations were made as follows.

"There is a leadership squabble in the Association of Ebonyi State indigenes in the area.

"The meeting that recorded the incident is the factional leadership of Ebonyi indigenes living in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

"It was alleged that the Association had earlier complained and written a petition to the President General of Ogboji without recourse to the security agencies.

"Meanwhile, as the PG was trying to use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategy to resolve the issue, it escalated to a record of the unfortunate incident.

"The son of the landlord confirmed that one of the victims is a tenant in their compound and gave some details that the joint investigative team are working on.

"Given the above, the Joint Security Team while condoling with the people of Ebonyi State, especially the family and friends of the deceased, wish the injured a quick recovery. 

"The Anambra State Police Command remains committed to making sure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book" the statement read.