Anambra State Condemns Ogboji Killings, Vows Swift Justice for Victims

The Anambra State Government has unequivocally condemned the brutal killing of at least 10 individuals in the Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area, promising swift and thorough action to bring the perpetrators to justice. The heinous attack, which occurred on Monday evening, June 30, 2025, targeted a community meeting of people of Ebonyi State origin.

In a statement released on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, described the incident as a “dastardly act” and extended the government’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. While a human rights lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, put the death toll at 13, the Anambra State Police Command confirmed 10 fatalities and nine others injured.

According to police accounts, the armed assailants, who arrived in two Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), unprovokedly opened fire on the gathering, shooting sporadically. The victims were immediately rushed to the hospital, where the deaths were confirmed, and bodies subsequently deposited in the morgue.

Commissioner Mefor assured residents that the incident was not targeted at any particular state or ethnic group, reiterating the government’s commitment to protecting all residents within its borders. “The government strongly condemns this dastardly act in the strongest possible terms and extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims,” Mefor stated. “We want to assure the good people of Anambra and beyond that this incident was not targeted at any particular state or ethnic group.”

The gruesome attack has drawn widespread condemnation from various quarters. Barrister Ejiofor, in his own statement, decried the “senseless, cold-blooded” killings as a direct assault on fundamental human rights and the nation’s conscience. He called for an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation, demanding that the culprits be identified, apprehended, and subjected to the full weight of the law, regardless of their status.

Similarly, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, expressed profound sadness and anger over the murder of his state’s indigenes. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor, Governor Nwifuru vowed to collaborate closely with Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to ensure that justice is served. He also appealed to Ebonyi people, particularly the affected families, to remain calm and refrain from any actions that could escalate tensions.

The Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that an investigation into the brutal attack has commenced, with efforts underway to apprehend the gunmen and ascertain their motive. The incident has once again highlighted the pervasive security challenges facing communities in the region, with renewed calls for more decisive government action to safeguard lives and property.