12th February, 2020
A widow Mrs. Goodluck Ogbuji, wife of late Nwamaka Ogbuji, an Ugwuatti Community Youth Leader in Ukwa, Abia State, has appealed to the Federal and State Governments for justice.
Goodluck made the call while speaking to newsmen in Aba on Wednesday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the late Ogbuji was an alleged victim of extra-judicial killing by Police Mobile Force men. Policemen attached to Enyimba Economic City Land Acquisition Committee on January 15th, at Ugwuatti community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia, allegedly shot Ogbuji dead.
The widow told newsmen that the incident leading to her husband’s death was without provocation.
“It took place at the Ugwuatti community hall, without provocation and justification, hence my call for justice for my late husband and family,” she said.
The 24-year-old widow, now nursing a three months old baby, therefore begged the Federal and Abia governments to ensure the killers of her husband did not escape justice.
Goodluck said that since the death of her husband, life had become “a living hell” for her and her three months old baby whom she said was seriously ill.
She said that both she and the child were going through untold hardship as the petty trading business her late husband established for her had gone down.
“It’s painful. Only God in heaven can explain my pains to you and everyone out there. I have been made a widow for no reason at the age of 24; my dear husband was killed for doing absolutely nothing. I’ve cried but have discovered that crying will not stop my pain. Only justice can solve my problem.
“I can’t forget that day they brought evil to my home. I was in the little shop he opened for me a few poles away from our house when people rushed to tell me my husband has been killed.
“My husband is the youth leader of his kindred and he only went to hear what those who came to take the community land for the Enyimba Economic City came to say. The police officers that came with the Coordinator of the Enyimba Economic City, David Akoma, killed my husband for no reason.
“By the custom of our land, I’m supposed to be in my house mourning the evil they brought upon me, but I’m out looking for what to eat and take care of my baby.
“Now, I’m hearing they are accusing my husband whom they shot right in his own community of being a kidnapper. They killed my husband and in a swift move to cover up their evil, they’re now trying to prevent me from getting the deserved justice, that is evil upon evil and good people should not let it stand,” she said.
Mr. Vincent Ogbuji, the younger brother of the deceased, also urged the Abia government to ensure justice was done because of his brother’s gruesome death.
“I want justice; let them prosecute David Akoma and his group who masterminded the killing of my brother. We’re weeping uncontrollably day and night and the little boy whose father they killed always cry because he has been used to his father carrying him before his painful death,” he said.
NAN also recalls that Mr. Ene Okon, the Abia Commissioner of Police, had told newsmen that Ugwuatti youths armed themselves and tried to snatch rifles from police officers resulting in Ogbuji’s death.
Okon’s statement was however refuted by Ugwuatti people and family members of the deceased, his wife and eyewitnesses who also said that the police were trying to hide their extra-judicial murder.