The community of Owerre-Ezukala in Orumba South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has been thrown into mourning and anger following the alleged extrajudicial killing of three innocent workers by the Agunechemba Security Outfit—a government-backed security squad.
The slain victims, identified as Malachy Chimaobi Iwuanyanwu and Odinkalu Chinonso from Umueze 1, Ehime Mbano, Imo State, and Kosisochukwu from Isuofia, Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s hometown, were reportedly on-site for a building project when they were gunned down. The security operatives allegedly labeled them as “unknown gunmen”—a term commonly used for criminals and insurgents in the region.
Eyewitnesses and residents have condemned the operation as poorly executed, lacking intelligence, and unjustifiably brutal. According to community members, the security forces raided the area without distinguishing between criminals and innocent civilians.
“This is a senseless attack on innocent people!” an enraged resident exclaimed. “We cannot allow our community to become another killing field like what happened in the dark days of the Bakassi Boys and other notorious security outfits that carried out indiscriminate executions based on hearsay.”
The victims were allegedly working on a construction site when the security team stormed the area, shooting indiscriminately. They were neither armed nor linked to any criminal activities, residents insist.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that instead of raiding the actual hideouts of criminals—reportedly in the nearby forests—the security squad targeted civilians in residential areas.
The grieving families, alongside community members, have demanded a thorough investigation and justice for the slain men.
“They were skilled workers doing POP and tiling in the house of a reverend,” a relative of the deceased stated. “They had been in the community for a week, working honestly, only to be killed and branded as criminals. This is an outright extrajudicial execution.”
A disturbing video clip obtained by SaharaReporters reportedly shows a member of the Agunechemba squad boasting about how he killed two of the workers inside the building where they were working.
“Where is the evidence that they were gunmen? Where are the weapons they recovered? The charms? The vehicles? This was nothing but a bloodbath,” another resident lamented.
The families of the victims remain in shock, with Raymond Iwuagwu, a relative of two of the deceased, describing them as hardworking and well-respected individuals. “Malachy was one of the best tilers in my community. I had a conversation with him in January, never knowing his life would be cut short like this.”
When SaharaReporters contacted Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, he denied the allegations, stating:
“It is not true; our security outfit is well-trained. They cannot kill innocent persons. However, I will reach out to the community and get back to you.”
As of the time of filing this report, he had yet to respond. Meanwhile, efforts to reach the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, proved unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered.
The victims’ bodies have since been released to their families, but the community remains in turmoil, demanding that Governor Soludo take swift action to ensure that innocent lives are no longer lost in reckless security operations.
With emotions running high and cries for justice growing louder, the big question remains: Will those responsible for these killings be held accountable, or will this be another case of injustice swept under the rug?
PIONEER NEWS 