Gunmen have beheaded Okechukwu Okoyethe legislator representing Governor Charles Soludo’s community in the Legislative Assembly in Anambra, southeastern Nigeria.
Mr. Okoye, who represents the Aguata 2 constituency in Anambra state, was abducted along with his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, on Sunday along Aguluzigbo road, Anaocha local government area in the state.
His head was said to have been dumped on Saturday at Chisco Park in Amichi, a community in the Nnewi South local government area of the state, six days after he was abducted.
Police spokesman in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday night.
He said the lawmaker’s headless body was later found along Ideani road, Nnobi community, Idemili Sur local government area of the state.
“(With) more information and confirmation, (we) identified the body as (that of) Hon Okechukwu Okoye,” Ikenga said.
However, he remained silent on the fate of the legislator’s assistant, Cyril Chiegboka.
But there are indications that the aide may also have been killed.
The police spokesman said state police commissioner Echeng Echeng described the lawmaker’s murder as “barbaric and an act of cowardice.”
Echeng also sympathized with the legislator’s family and friends and assured that the police will track down the killers.
A video clip that captured the head lying in the park has gone viral on various social networks.
In the clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, two warning notes, believed to have been written by the gunmen, were thrown on the road.
“We give politicians 48 hours to withdraw all soldiers from Biafraland or face our wrath or the consequences,” the gunmen said in one of the notes.
In the second story, which was blurred, the gunmen appeared to be threatening the politicians with “collusion” with law enforcement officials.
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“We will attack them one by one because the soldiers and police (officers) are no longer our problem,” the second note read.
The kidnapped legislator, representative of Mr. Soludo, is a native of Isuofia in the Aguata Local Government Area, where the governor also hails from.
worsening of the situation
Security in southeastern Nigeria has deteriorated in recent times with attacks by armed individuals reported almost daily across the region.
Anambra state has seen some of the worst attacks in the region. Attacks often target security agencies, government officials, and facilities.
Mr. Soludo recently visited Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The governor said the IPOB leader’s visit was part of his “wider consultations with critical stakeholders” to ensure lasting peace and security in the southeast.
During his inauguration as governor of the state, Soludo had called for dialogue with the IPOB group and other gunmen behind the insecurity in the state and the region.
The governor later announced an amnesty program for gunmen and declared an end to the state’s stay-at-home order. But residents have continued to obey Monday’s stay-at-home order in the state and across the region, mostly out of fear.
Attacks by gunmen increased in the state shortly after Soludo’s inauguration and the announcement of the end of the state’s sit-at-home order.
The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks.
The separatist group is leading the agitation for the formation of an independent Biafra state from south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.
The secessionist group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently detained in Abuja, where he is facing trial for terrorism.
Mr. Kanu appeared in court on May 18 for his continued trial.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 26.