The Anambra State Police Command has initiated an investigation into the killings of 13 people, purportedly Ebonyi State indigenes, by unidentified assailants in the state’s Ogboji community, Orumba South LGA.
Our correspondent reported that the armed hoodlums assaulted the place late on Monday in two Sport Utility Vehicles and unprovokedly attacked the folks who were attending their monthly general meeting, shooting indiscriminately into the air.
The development, it was also said, has caused terror in the town, bringing both economic and commercial activity to a halt, leaving citizens and community leaders perplexed.
According to community members, 13 people were killed during the attack, but police only confirmed 10 deaths.
The majority of the victims were non-indigenes from Ebonyi State. Nweke urged the state government and authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
He said, “It was a tragic and horrifying Monday evening for members of the Ogboji community, particularly non-indigenes residing in the area, as gunmen stormed a meeting venue in the area and brutally murdered about 13 persons.
“The attack, which occurred between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, left the affected families in mourning. We bring to the attention of the Anambra State Government the killing of these persons, mostly indigenes of Ebonyi State at Ogboji in Orumba South Local Government Area by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.”
Nweke also appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, and urged him to activate the command’s people to hunt down the culprits.
A survivor, Augustine Odom, who is the chairman of the Ebonyi community in Ogboji, characterised the attack as “sudden and unprovoked”.
Odom said, “The community was holding its regular monthly meeting when the assailants struck. We were having our monthly meeting of the Ebonyi community, which is held on the last Monday of every month, beginning at 4:00pm.
“This gathering was known to our Town Union President. It was a peaceful meeting aimed at discussing welfare issues affecting our members. Then, around 6:30 pm, a group of gunmen arrived in a Sienna vehicle and accused us of holding a meeting against them.
“The attackers demanded the group’s minutes book and thereafter seized it and opened fire on the participants. They collected our minutes book, ordered everyone to lie down, and then asked the chairman to stand. Moments later, they started shooting at us. About 13 of our members were killed on the spot. The treasurer and I survived with gunshot wounds.”
Odom added that the victims were from various communities in Ebonyi State, including Izzi, Ikwo, and Mgbo.
The two survivors, who are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in the area, expressed shock, stating that they had no known disputes with any individual or group before the attack.
They added, “We have no issues with anyone. We are law-abiding residents who simply gathered to support one another.” The Anambra State Police Command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development when contacted on Tuesday.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command has condemned the indiscriminate shooting incident that resulted in fatal injuries and fatalities to ten persons on the evening of 30th June, 2025, at Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area. The police have further assured the state that the command shall hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“Meanwhile, the police-led security team has taken over the scene and is working on the necessary information to arrest the perpetrators. Further development would be communicated, please.”
