Mbachu’s Security Summit Promises End To Cult Killings in Awka
By Chuka Nnabuife
GIVEN an unprecedented number of killings related to bloody clash between cult groups, Awka, the capital city of Anambra State is boiling with tension and reeking of spilt blood. Some eerie thinker wagger, the number of unhappy ghosts may be high and increasing.
Cult-linked killings hae become commonplace. Victims in all the attacks and deaths are young able-bodied men.
Representative of Awka 1 Constituency (mostly Awka North local government area) in Anambra State House of Assembly (ANHA), Henry Nigeria Mbachu, laments that over 30 young men has been fallen in the simmering cult clash with the last two months yet the violence has no end in sight. Hence, there is urgent need to get to the root of the matter, address it and solve it.
Though relevant authorities such as Police and government have not corroborated the opposition, Labour Party (LP) legislator’s casualty figure, they also accept that Awka’s most worrisome crime, is the somewhat knotty problem of incessant cult wars. Sometimes, the situation leads to broad day gun battles and gory mundane show of power and fetish parades.
At least twice in recent years, beheaded body of young men have been found in the open at the town’s main market, Eke Awka.
At some other time, a tricycle park ‘commander’ have been gunned down in daylight at a garage at UNIZIK Temp Site Junction.
Another time, a similar scary incident of gunshot killing happened at a tricycle garage around thThe pular ARROMA Flyover in the heart of the town.
The Awka-native, state legislator, popularly known as ‘Hon. Nigeria’ says there are many more that happen inside the communes of the town. He concedes, though obviously painfully that in almost all the killings it is Awka youths of rival cults that are gunning down one another. “Which is the reason why I am calling for us to come together as ndu Awka (Awka natives) and talk to ourselves because if we fail to do so, how bad the situation can degenerate is better not imagined,” he reasoned.
He adds: “This is not about gender or social affiliation, not about the colour you fly, not about the political party one belongs or whatever faith or belief system one practices or favours, it is about saving Awka. And if we save Awka, we will arguably, save the entire Anambra State. That is why I am calling on government, the security and law enforcement agencies to support our bid to save Awka now that we have the opportunity.”
Hon. Nigeria has therefore planned an event tagged ‘Awka City Security Summit’. The rally of prominent Awka sons and daughters and stakeholders such as government, security and law enforcement agents,tend the press among others is scheduled to hold at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, on Wednesday, May 29 at 10 am.
According to the organiser, he has toured all major cities of Nigeria where Awka peopley reside and hubble together such as Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu among others to rally their support. He has equally consulted elders and major stakeholders and the build ups have been favourable. He hinted that at the end of the jaw-jaw there would be a decision on the way forward for the Awka people on the matter.
