Gunmen Kill Lawyer, One Other in Anambra Community
In a tragic incident that has shocked the Okija community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, gunmen have killed a lawyer, Peter Awa who was the Secretary General of the Okija Progressive Union and another individual, Izuchukwu Igwenagha. The attack occurred around 9 PM on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
Awa, who also served as the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ihiala Branch and the Director of Public Prosecution for Anambra State, was murdered in a market square in his Umudioka village. Igwenagha, known locally as “Onwa,” was killed in his Isieke village.
In a related incident, a businessman, whose identity remains unknown, was kidnapped by the gunmen at Nkwo Okija while he was driving home from a function.
Awa, who was also the Chancellor of the Knights of St. Mulumba, Okija Sub Council, had recently attended a village meeting just hours before his death. His wife, also a lawyer, narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping in Ihiala.
According to local reports, the Okija community was considered the most secure in Anambra State prior to this attack, with a robust security architecture that even attracted neighboring communities to hold burials and weddings there due to the safety it provided. Awa himself was elected as Secretary in 2023 during a town union election conducted by the Anambra Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Town Union Matters.
A senior police officer confirmed the incident on Monday, stating that security operatives have been deployed to the area to investigate and maintain order. The officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared these details with The Nation.
The violent events have left the community in mourning and have raised concerns about security in the region, which had previously been seen as a haven of safety.
