“I regret that one of you, the member representing the good people of Aguata 11 Constituency in the House of Assembly (my own representative), Hon. Okechukwu Okoye is still in the custody of the kidnappers. The Security Agencies are working very hard and around the clock to secure his release. God is on the throne, and Anambra will win. Let me leave it at that”
The above quote was by Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo. It came from him on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, when he went to the Anambra State House of Assembly to present the revised 2022 Budget.
A couple of days earlier, gunmen had poked their hands into Soludo’s eyes by kidnapping the House of Assembly Member representing the Governor’s own Constituency, Aguata 11.
Honourable Okechukwu Okoye and one other were kidnapped May 15, 2022, in Aguata while he was driving his Sienna car. The Police recovered the abandoned car, but Okoye was nowhere.
Everybody was optimistic that his abductors would make contacts and ask for ransom, and release him thereafter. Afterall, he had been kidnapped before, and was released.
When Soludo spoke about Okoye on Wednesday, he, too, was optimistic. He raised hopes. But it was an optimism that has gone awry. Hope that has become hopeless.
Honourable Okoye has not only been killed, he was beheaded. His body-less head was found on Saturday at Nnobi in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the State. His abductors took away his body, and left his head where it would be found.
An eye-witness said his head, freshly cut-off, was mounted at Chisco Motors Motor Park.
Outrage has greeted his killing and beheading. His Isuofia Community and the entire State are reeling in palpable shock.
“A sacrilege”, sreamed an elderly man who pleaded anonymity. “Igboland has gone to the dogs”, he added, his hands on his head.
Another, with tears carousing his cheeks said: “This is worse than the murder of Deborah in Sokoto. In Sokoto, they said Deborah committed blasphemy. In this cases, what did Okoye do?”
“This is not who we are and, thus, must be rooted out of our communities. It is hightime all Igbo Communities take drastic action to get to the root of this violence, killings and arson attacks across Igboland”, said another.
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the beheading of Honourable Okechukwu Okoye. But no arrest has been made.
Governor Soludo was yet to react at the time of filing this story.
In past few weeks, the insecurity in Anambra State has escalated.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
