The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, led a Joint Security Investigative Team to Ogboji in Orumba South Local Government Area, where 10 persons were gruesomely murdered during a community meeting. The visit, which included personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies, marks a critical step in the ongoing investigation into the tragic incident.
CP Orutugu confirmed the arrest of one suspect, Sunday Mbanu, who is currently in police custody and assisting investigators with useful information. He assured the public that the crime is not believed to be a targeted attack on any specific ethnic group, but rather a heinous act by common enemies of the state.
During the fact-finding mission, the Joint Team met with key stakeholders in the community, including the Traditional Prime Minister, the President General of the Ogboji community, and the son of the landlord of the compound where the massacre occurred.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident may have stemmed from a leadership dispute within the local Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes residing in Ogboji. It was discovered that the meeting where the attack occurred was convened by a factional group within the association.
Community members alleged that the association had earlier petitioned the President General of Ogboji over unresolved grievances but failed to engage security agencies in addressing the matter. While the community leadership had attempted to resolve the conflict through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), the disagreement reportedly escalated and resulted in the deadly violence.
Further insights were provided by the son of the landlord, who disclosed that one of the victims was a tenant in their compound. His account is being used to support the ongoing investigation by the Joint Security Team.
In the course of the visit, the Commissioner and his team paid a courtesy call on the Traditional Ruler of Ekwulobia and extended condolences to the government and people of Ebonyi State, especially the families and friends of the deceased. He also wished the injured survivors a speedy recovery.
The Anambra State Police Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all those responsible for the killings are brought to justice, assuring the public that no stone would be left unturned in the pursuit of justice.