HURIWA condemns killing of intending couple in Arondizuogu, bombing in Ihiala

Civil Rights campaign group, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the killing of an intending couple Mr. Martin Eremezie Ifechukwu and miss Mba Ifeoma Gloria and the brother of the would-be groom by gunmen along the Ndiejezie Arondizuogu/Okigwe Federal Highway in Imo State on Wednesday night.

Ifechukwu Martin, whose wedding was billed for January 18, 2023 was killed by gunmen alongside his fiancée, Gloria Mba at Arondizuogu, in the Ideato North Local Council Area of Imo State. The brother of the groom who was driving them was also killed in the attack.

HURIWA asked governors in Southeast states to beef up security in local council areas and Federal Highways that are flashpoints of the killings.

The group also condemned the reported bombing of Ihiala Local Council Area in Anambra State by unidentified armed terrorists who also killed some vigilantes guarding the local government secretariat.

HURIWA alleged that it took a lot of time for security forces to respond to the dastardly attack.

The Rights group expressed disappointment that innocent Nigerians are getting killed needlessly and condemned delay in beefing up security around the local council areas.

It asked that intelligence, armed vigilantes with sophisticated weapons must be adopted for effective measures to expose the sponsors of the killings in all Southeast states.

HURIWA urged all aggrieved persons to stop shedding innocent blood, opt for peaceful negotiations. It said the violence is turning the Southeast into killing fields.

National coordinator, HURIWA, comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said: “There is urgent need for all hands to be on deck with the aim of working out how to end these vicious circles of killings which are turning South East into a primitive place. We expect everyone to say enough is enough and mean it. These killings are intolerable crimes against humanity.”

“We complained of this reckless kidnapping, killings and burning of vehicles in Arondizuogu last year but the PPRO assured us that something was already being done about them.”