The House of Representatives has urged the Inspector General of Police to investigate the alleged murder of Mrs Monica Okwuibe and Mrs Nkiruka Anyaegbunam, which occurred in Enugu on Jan. 6.
The resolution, which also called for the probe of attempted murder of Mrs Chidinma Benita Anyaegbunam, was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Nnolim Nnaji (PDP-Enugu state) at plenary on Tuesday.
Moving the motion earlier, Nnaji recalled that on Jan. 6, Mrs Monica Okwuibe and Mrs Nkiruka Anyaegbunam were allegedly murdered by unknown armed men.
According to him, there was also an attempted murder of Mrs Chidinma Benita Anyaegbunam of Edumegu, Okorouba–Ozalla autonomous community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state.
The lawmaker said that the acts were committed at Obosi in Anambra on the day that Mrs Chidinma Anyaegbunam was conducting the burial ceremony of her late husband, Mr Onyedika Jeremiah Anyaegbunam, who died on 6 Dec., 2021.
“At about 6.00 p.m., on the said date, three masked gunmen forcefully entered the compound of the bereaved Anyaegbunam family in Obosi and shot sporadically, scaring away mourners with the intent of locating Mrs Chidinma Benita Anyaegbunam, who ran for safety.
“The assailants searched for Mrs Chidinma Anyaegbunam and threatened to kill her if she did not confess what happened to their late brother, Mr Onyedika Anyaegbunam; to which she pleaded for her life to be spared or be made to swear an oath.
“But she was shot severally leaving her in critical condition of which she is currently in the intensive care unit under life support at the hospital,’’ Nnaji said.
The Rep said that Mrs Monica Okwuibe (mother of Mrs Chidinma Anyaegbunam was shot to death instantly, while Mrs Nkiruka Anyaegbunam (Mrs Chidinma’s sister–inlaw, who accommodated her during her ordeal with her late husband’s family members), was equally shot to death;
“The suspects, who perpetrated the heinous crime and unlawful act against humanity, are allegedly brothers– in–law to Mrs Chidinma with unidentified accomplices, who had nurtured their plans since the death of Mr Onyedika, and forcefully took away his house and other properties from the young widow under false allegations,’’ he said.
The lawmaker said that the deteriorating health condition of Mrs Chidinma Anyaegbunam, who has left concerned Nigerians apprehensive of her survival and thus requires urgent attention in a more equipped medical facility.
Nnaji said that two of the suspects were presently in police custody in Awka, but one key suspect was still at large with no information from the public.
He said there is need to condemn such odious acts where widows are subjected to illicit, unpleasant livelihood and deprivations at the death of their husbands in a bid to confiscate properties.
The legislators urged the IGP to take over the case from the Anambra police command and place the only surviving victim in the hospital under police protection
The Reps also urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian, Disaster and Social Development, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Human Rights Commission to assist Mrs Chidinma Benita Anyaegbunam get justice.
The lawmakers said she needs physical, mental (psychological) and economic rehabilitation, including compensation plan as the only surviving victim of the deceased families.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila mandated the Committees on Police Affairs, Women Affairs and Human Rights to appropriately monitor the case.
The speaker directed the committees to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
In a related development, the house has called on the IGP to dismantle the police checkpoint along Gombe road in Dukku Federal Constituency in Gombe state.
The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Aisha Dukku (APC-Gombe) at plenary on Tuesday.
She said that a police officer at the junction shot a tanker driver over a disagreement on Jan. 17, which led to the blockage of the road for several hours by protesters.
According to her, this led to hindrance of movement on the ever-busy road to Bauchi state and others states in North West zone.
She described the action of the officer as barbaric and recommended that it should be prosecuted saying that it was capable of affecting the trust of the people negatively.
thecommentngJanuary 26, 20223 Mins read
