Crime & SecuritySoutheastThe Murder of Popular Nnewi Businessman, Chief Ofoma By Unknown Gunmen Raises Concern Over Insecurity In The Southeast

On Sunday, the CEO of Ofoma Associates Limited, an estate surveying firm with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Chief Gab Ofoma was gruesomely gunned down in cold blood by unknown gunmen.

Chief Gab Ofoma an indigene of Umunnealam, Umudim, Nnewi, was shot dead around the Ukpor-Lilu-Orsumoghu-Azia-Mbosi Road, which connects Anambra and Imo states while heading back to his base in Port Harcourt after a short visit to his hometown.

According to a Facebook post by a kinsman, Azuka Onwuka, Chief Ofoma may have been murdered because he was riding in an SUV and looked like a ‘big man’ as it has become normal for gunmen to kill anyone driving inexpensive/luxurious vehicles along the road unless the vehicles are accompanied by a convoy of armed security operatives.

“Many people have been murdered on that road by these people who kill anybody that is in a big car and looks like a big man. It has become a crime to ride a big car in the South-East, except you have a battalion of security operatives guarding you,” Azuka said.

He also said that the gunmen were quiet during the Christmas/New Year season but are now back on the road, wreaking havoc on innocent citizens.

“During the Christmas/New Year mass return, the killers seemed to have gone on holiday and resumed afterwards,” he added.

Undoubtedly, the growing security threats from Nigeria’s Southeast region give cause for concern. The insecurity has hit an all-time high, leaving the citizens at the mercy of “unknown gunmen.”

The people of the Southeast are already devastated by the current spate of insecurity in the region. It beats imagination how the once most peaceful region in Nigeria is today riddled with insecurity, and people living in fear.

The horrifying reality of today is that there are not many options available to salvage the situation. The only way out is for the region’s political leaders to wake up from deep slumber.

They should worry less about their political ambitions and diligently work with security agencies to fish out these criminal elements causing mayhem in the region. They need to restore the people’s confidence by putting an end to the current anarchism going on in the region.

The late businessman, who until his death held the chieftaincy title Ojemba Enwe Ilo – (a traveller or sojourner does not create enemies), was the Principal Consultant and Managing Partner of Ofoma Associates. He was a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, a member of the International Federation of Realtors (Worldwide), and a senior member of the American Appraisers.