AWKA — Last week, Chukwuma Adazu was allegedly shot and killed by naval officers at Awkuzu junction in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra state. Chukwuma who was driving his cousins, Kingsley, Chukwunonso, and Innocent Nebolisa, was not as fortunate as his three cousins who sustained various degrees of gunshot injury and were rushed to the hospital immediately, but was later abducted from the hospital by suspected SARs operatives and released the following day upon sustained campaign for their release. According to Kingsley Nebolisa, they were coming from Aguleri where they went for a job and were spontaneously fired by the officers, for absolutely no reason, killing their cousin who was driving instantly.
It would be recalled that on Monday August 9th, during the IPOB sit at home order, the Awkuzu Navy outpost was attacked and some officers were killed. That was the second time gunmen attacked the navy checkpoint this year. This time around, the officers did not find it funny and they, it appears are out to take their revenge on unsuspecting citizens who are using the busy road to connect to their various destinations around Onitsha or Awka/Enugu axis.
Just yesterday, Anambra state commissioner for Land, Bonaventure Enemali’s official car was pelted with bullets by suspected naval officers around Awkuzu junction triggering different responses from the populace, who wondered if the commissioner driving in his official vehicle can be this unfortunate, how much worse for the ordinary citizens. The Commissioner’s official vehicle, a 2019 Ford Escape, with government number plate, had bullet holes that pierced through the front and back windscreen; such that the front passenger could have been hit by the bullet, in equal measure as the back left seated passenger. It is however not clear if the commissioner was in the vehicle as of the time of the incident. However, it is very likely that the commissioner was in the vehicle considering that only a few days ago, his local government of Anambra West unveiled the local government’s twelve years development plan. It could be that he was returning from his village before the unfortunate incident. When contacted by The West African Pilot News, Hon. Bonaventure declined to make any comment.
“I do not want to comment on it, for now”, he said. In his Facebook post earlier, he enjoined his followers to thank God with him. “Brethren thank God with me. One of my vehicles was attacked today (yesterday) but by his grace, I wasn’t there at the bullet’s way”.
However, an aide to the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly has also narrated his ordeal at the same junction in the hands of the naval officers only a few days ago. According to him, an officer at the checkpoint pointed a gun at him while inspecting his vehicle which has no tinted glass.
“I was marveled at such uncivil act of pointing a gun at me (and my car has) no tinted glass”, Mr. Okechukwu narrated.
Only last month, one Chidiebere Anichebe, a native of Awkuzu, was alleged to have been shot and killed by the naval officers. And so from indications, the situation appears to be getting worse and till now, the Navy is yet to address this scandalous issue. However, when contacted by The West African Pilot News, the Anambra state commissioner for information, C Don Adinuba said that the complaints by members of the public on the activities of some naval officers at Awkuzu junction will be duly investigated by the government to ascertain exactly what happened.
“Once the investigation is ready, we make it public. The government does not act on hearsay; that is the standard practice all over the world”, the commissioner said.
In the meantime, commuters are advised to exercise extra caution around any military or naval checkpoint especially around the Southeast, given the fragility of the security situation in the zone, and also the conduct of many Nigerian security personnel.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
