The immediate past Enugu State Caretaker Committee chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Ben Nwoye, has condemned the gruesome killing of party chieftains during a political meeting on Tuesday, describing it as politically motivated.
Yet to be identified gunmen, on Tuesday, around 7pm invaded APC Ward 3 meeting at Obeagu-Awkunanaw in Enugu South Council Area and killed the party’s State Youth Leader, Kelvin Ezeoha, one Chidera Ogaba and abducted a Local Government Chairman, Mike Ogbonna, who is of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama’s faction.
Soon after, the attack was attributed to the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, who were enforcing the solidarity sit-at-home order declared on that Tuesday for their leader’s court case.
But addressing journalists on Thursday, Nwoye, who could not hold back his emotion, allayed the fear that the attack was carried out by suspected members of IPOB and maintained that the attack was politically motivated.
He, however, called for the legalisation of arms bearing by citizens in the state, saying stating that the government should enact a law allowing people to bear arms since it was becoming clear and obvious that the nation’s security agencies have been overwhelmed with the current wave of insecurity ravaging the country.
“Am totally aligning myself with governor Masari of Kastina State, who is calling for the legalisation of arms bearing in the country. It was in the spirit of reconciliation and attempt to enthrone peace in Enugu APC that these young men and believers of true democracy lost their lives, paid the supreme price. As I said, am deeply saddened, because what happened on Tuesday would not have happened if we had not agreed to sit down and discuss in other to make peace. People say it was as a result of the sit-at-home, but I have a different view on that because, I passed through the meeting location at about 6 o’clock that evening, and shops were opened, the Eke Otu market was on, vehicles were moving. Besides, the late Kelvin is not from that Obeagu Ward 3, but as I was told, he was pressured to attend the meeting to show support. He arrived when the meeting had almost ended, and immediately he entered the venue, the gunmen surfaced and shot him dead in close range, while the other person died on their way to the hospital.”
Nwoye, however, urged security agencies to look beyond enforcers of sit-at-home and do comprehensive investigations with a view to unravelling those behind the dastard act.