The Anambra State Police Command has raised concerns over alleged attempts by families of victims killed during the Onwa Asaa festival in Nibo, Awka-South Local Government Area, to obstruct investigations into the tragic incident.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, reportedly left several dead after suspected cultists stormed a restaurant in a Lexus SUV and opened fire on festival-goers.
While sources from Nibo claim as many as 15 people were killed during the attack, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disputed the casualty figures. In a statement on Monday, Ikenga confirmed that five people were killed, and three others sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
SP Ikenga expressed the police command’s commitment to tracking down the perpetrators of the attack but voiced concerns about attempts by the victims’ families to conceal evidence and disrupt the investigation. According to Ikenga, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Itam, led a team of operatives to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, only to find that family members of the deceased were allegedly attempting to cover up key details surrounding the deaths.
“Anambra State Police Command remains committed to the ongoing investigation and to arresting the perpetrators of the cult-related killings in Nibo on 20/10/2024, which resulted in five deaths and left three others seriously injured,” Ikenga stated. He added, “The Command also frowns upon the actions of some relatives of the deceased, who are trying to bury evidence, suppress information, and disrupt the ongoing investigation.”
SP Ikenga reiterated that CP Itam has pledged to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the killings and ensure justice is served. The police have called on the public to provide any information that could assist in bringing the attackers to justice.
