The candidate for Ihiala Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Jude Oguejiofor has been killed by gunmen
Angel Network News reports that Late Oguejiofor, a lawyer, hailed from Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra but lived in Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.
According to sources, the politician was abducted around 1 a.m, some days back, alongside his brother by some gunmen at
Orsumoghu Community where they had gone to see their aged parents.
The brother, a medical doctor who recently came back from a foreign country was later released unhurt.
A source close to the family, who asked not to be named said that the gunmen accused Mr Oguejiofor of writing petitions against them and their activities in the community.
“They said he had been writing petitions against them to the Anambra State Government,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the source said Mr Oguejiofor’s father fainted and died on Thursday when the gunmen contacted the family and informed them that they had killed the politician.
A lawyer (name withheld) who hails from Orsu-Ihiteukwa, a community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State which shares a boundary with Oguejiofor’s community, said that Oguejiofor could have avoided his community given that he had been vocal about the rising attacks by gunmen in the area.
“His (Oguejiofor’s) community is very volatile. The community is virtually run down and taken over by these criminals who say they are agitating for freedom,” he said.
Like other states in Nigeria’s south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State, with frequent attacks by armed persons.
Ihiala is among the council areas in Anambra State worst hit by insecurity. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials, and facilities.
The Nigerian government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region.
However, the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.
