By Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
The President General of the Ebonyi Unity Forum in Anambra State, Moses Chukwuma Ofoke, has expressed optimism that with the joint efforts of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi and Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Ebonyi indigenes residing in Anambra will no longer suffer incessant attacks, harassment, and killings.
Ofoke, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Mosfrank International Company, raised the alarm over what he described as a disturbing rise in cases of intimidation and violence against Ebonyians in Anambra, urging authorities to take urgent measures to safeguard their lives and property.
Speaking on Sunday, he condemned the recent Ogboji massacre in Orumba North Local Government Area, where 11 Ebonyians were brutally murdered during a town union meeting, insisting that the incident reflected a dangerous pattern of insecurity in the state.
The victims, who were recently given a mass burial attended by Ebonyi leaders and government officials, were reportedly attacked by gunmen who stormed the meeting venue in two vehicles. According to Ofoke, the assailants forced members to surrender their phones and lie face down before opening fire.
“Eleven of them died instantly, while several others sustained life-threatening injuries. Despite our cries for justice, no meaningful arrests have been made months after the killings. The situation has left our people living in fear, and this cannot continue,” he lamented.
The Ebonyi Unity Forum leader further accused some security operatives and vigilante groups in Anambra of subjecting Ebonyians to arbitrary arrests, torture, and even extrajudicial killings under flimsy excuses, alleging that many of the victims were targeted simply because of their origin.
“What we are passing through in Anambra is not easy. Security challenges are overwhelming, with many communities under the control of unknown gunmen. Yet, our people are often the soft targets. We cannot allow these atrocities to be swept under the carpet,” he warned.
Despite the grim situation, Ofoke expressed hope that the leadership of both governors would foster stronger collaboration to end the hostilities and restore normalcy, describing Nwifuru and Soludo as leaders with a genuine commitment to peace and development.
He insisted that Ebonyians in Anambra should not be treated as strangers but as partners in the state’s growth, adding that the long history of cultural and economic ties between the two states must be preserved.
“By God’s grace, with the support of our two Governors, Ebonyi people in Anambra will no longer be subjected to ill-treatment. We will cement mutual relationships between the two sister states and ensure peace and dignity for our people,” Ofoke assured.
He emphasized that the Ebonyi Unity Forum, an umbrella body for all Ebonyi associations and clubs in Anambra, remains committed to fostering unity, dialogue, and cooperation to safeguard members’ welfare while promoting peaceful coexistence in the host state.
Ofoke further appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the killers of the Ogboji victims and restore order in troubled Anambra communities, while cautioning Ebonyi indigenes against acts capable of bringing disrepute to their people.
“We are peace-loving people, and our contributions to commerce, education, and development in Anambra cannot be ignored. It is time justice is done for those killed, and it is time our people are treated with fairness and respect,” he said.