By Suleiman Anyalewechi
An Abia State High Court sitting in the oil rich Ukwa area has ruled that two members of the State’s Vigilante Services, Ugochukwu Amaugo and Udo Ogba Oka are to die by hanging for their roles in the disappearance and death of Temple Nwakanma and Martins Azih in 2013 .
Presiding Judge, The Honourable Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu who delivered the verdict on Thursday March 7 2024 found the duo of Amaugo and Oka guilty of conspiracy, kidnap and murder .
According to the fact of the case, Amaugo and Oka who were part of the defunct Bakassi Group, now Abia State Vigilante Services had on August 30 2013 in Osioma Local Government Council, arrested Nwakanma and Azih on suspicion of being in possession of arms and other dangerous weapons.
Subsequently, the ex- Vigilante Operatives decided to transfer the suspects ( Nwakanma and Azih ) to their Umuahia Headquarters.
However, Amaugo and Oka ,claimed that at the Tower junction of the State capital on their way from Aba, they were accosted by some Nigerian Army Personnel, who after interrogation, demanded for the handover of Nwakanma and Azih to them.
They also claimed of not knowing the identity of the said military operatives ,as well as not having a documented evidence of the handover process.
Instructively, the whereabouts of Nwakanma and Azih from the time of the said interception by, and hand over to the men of the Nigerian Army ( August 30 2013) to date ,has remained unknown.
The Nigerian Army has since distanced itself from the incident,with all efforts to establish the whereabouts of Nwakanma and Azih abortive in the last 11 years.
Justice Ahuchaogu, therefore, ruled that for failing to prove beyond any reasonable doubt their claims of handing over the suspects to the men of the Nigerian Army ,the two ex- Abia State Vigilante Service operatives, are to die by handing,having been found guilty of conspiracy, Kidnap and murder.
