Anambra community protest gruesome murder of ex-Principal, wife, daughter in church

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The people of Umuehiam community in Abam, Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Monday trooped out to protest the recent gruesome murder of their son, Mr Kenneth Ekwesianya, his wife and 32-year-old daughter.

The protesters took off from Umuehiam Community Hall, marching through the town centre to the Divisional Police Station. They then gathered at the Azia General Assembly (AGA) Secretariat where they were addressed by the Secretary General, Jude Onyebuagu.

The Secretary General described the incident as a source of worry to the entire community, even as he detailed some members of the vigilante to accompany the protesters to further demonstrate their seriousness towards the development

He added that the vigilante group of the community had been working with the security agencies to ensure the culprits were brought to book.

On his part, the Chairman of Umuehiam Community, Mr. Ebuka Chukwulobe, who was in company of members of the executive council, told journalists that the deceased did not embezzle any community money.

He described the note left behind by their assailants as diversionary and misleading.

“Ekwesianya was a school principal who served his fatherland meritoriously for 35 years.

“The wife too until her untimely death was a school teacher while their daughter just finished her NYSC programme and has started pursuing her post-graduate studies.

“They are well known in the community and have never at any time being fraudulent.

“This sacrilege committed against three of them in a swoop of madness must not go unpunished. We know that no amount of crying can bring them back to life but we demand justice for them,” he stated.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Azia hailed the protesters for their peaceful conduct, but warned them against taking law into their hands.

While saying that efforts are on-going to bring the perpetrators to justice, he stressed that the ugly incident was a concern to everyone in the community.

The protesters were blessed by the community’s ventenarian, Pa Boniface Onyejekwe, before they set out for the protest, urging them to embrace a peaceful protest.

“I have never seen such a sacrilegious killing on a church altar in my entire life. The perpetrators will not go unpunished,” he said.