By Michael Nweka
Nnewi
It was a terrible weekend for the people of Osumenyi Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State as gunmen murdered no fewer than five persons while demanding for the life of one Mr Vincent Tochukwu Nwaikwu.
The incident which took place at a popular beer parlour on Friday 29th April, 2022, had thrown the community members wailing uncontrollably while laying curses on the attackers.
It was gathered that the incident reportedly occurred at about 8:30 p.m. when a group of men stormed a local drinking bar and opened fire on some persons who have come for evening relaxation.
The gunmen on sighting that their suspect was not gunned down left in a hurry and reports had it that they visited Mr Vincent Tochukwu Nwaikwu’s house but could not see him.
According to eye eyewitness who spoke to our Correspondent, Mrs Margaret, said, “Gunmen opened fire on some persons drinking at Uto Ndu beer parlour around 8:30 p.m. and left. It was later that same night that news spread that the assailants went to Gilbert Soni Nwaikwu of Okofia village house and shot him dead with the message that the son, Tochukwu Nwaikwu, is the target as they demanded for him dead or alive.
Another witnesses who spoke to this reporter, Nze Michael Nweke said "they went to the bar, and claim they didn't see who they came for, and they now went to the home of Chief Gilbert Soni Nwaikwu, one of them were asking for Vincent Toochukwu Nwaikwu, but didn't find him in his father's house, so in anger, the armed men killed Chief Gilbert Soni Nwaikwu and left a message for Vincent, whose whereabouts is unknown as at time of writing this report".
Another eye witness, who simply identified himself as Paschal disclosed that no fever than five persons were confirmed dead during the attack and that the target victim, Vincent Toochukwu Nwaikwu, was once kidnapped few months ago, "we are not sure why he was been kidnapped, but we suspect it was related to either political or business related, Vincent headed the youth in that area in the last election, so we suspect it was bcos of that, but he escaped from the kidnappers hands miraculously".
"We suspect it could be politically motivated or due to the writes and video he made about the activities of IPOB in the south East and the insecurity in Nigeria", Paschal added.
However, it was gathered that the gunmen feeling disappointed as their target where not met shortly drove off. "They couldn’t get their target and so they drove off, It was in the morning that we got news Mr Gilbert Soni Nwaikwu was shot dead at his house after the gunmen visited the beer parlour seeking to see his son, Vincent Tochukwu Nwaikwu”.
An elder statement who spoke to this reporter, Chief Daniel Obi noted that the alleged separatist group (Indigenous people of Biafra) are leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria, which according to them the detention of the secessionist group leader Nnamdi Kanu has triggered unrest, unwanted killing and maiming of some youths in the Southeast especially those who have refused to join the group.
Meanwhile, a viral video circulating online show some masked gunmen seeking for the arrest of Vincent Tochukwu Nwaikwu.
As at time of this report, the whereabouts of Mr Vincent Tochukwu Nwaikwu is unknown and the families are pleading for the safe return of their son. While efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra about the last night’s attack reported abortive as at the time of filing this report.