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• Abia community in turmoil over brutal murder of youth leader
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
On January 1, he was said to have joined his kinsmen to herald the dawn of the New Year. He went further on that day, according to information, to tighten the nuts, cross the T’s and dot the I’s in the plans for his wedding that was to take place just days away.
Then January 2 came with heightened joy and renewed hope for the tying of the nuptials with his heartthrob. Apart from putting final touches for his wedding, Igwe Akuma Akwu, a former President-General of the National Association of Ohafia Students (NAOS), had other engagements, one of which was visiting a relation who was among those that retired from community service. Akwu went to the venue of the ceremony, but he never returned home alive.
What happened?
It was revealed that on Friday, January 2, at about 7:30 pm, Akwu and members of his household, including his brothers, Uche Akwu and Acha Akwu, were returning home from the traditional retirement visit. This reporter gathered that on approaching a particular spot in the community, the deceased and his brothers were allegedly accosted by some gun-wielding young men from the area.
It was gathered that an altercation ensued and during the confrontation, Akwu was reportedly shot in the chest and he died instantly, while other members of his group sustained gunshot injuries.
The major reason for Akwu’s murder is yet to surface. While some attributed it to the lingering tussle over the traditional stool in the area, others are painting political picture out of the debacle.
However, information had it that on December 30, 2025, the deceased had raised the alarm on his official Facebook page over what he described as a sustained attack against his Ndi Uma Compound, claiming he had earlier been beaten in January 2025. He was said to have revealed that his five-year-old cousin went missing during one of the attacks.
Linking the attacks that have destroyed property and threatened lives to a disputed Ezieogo installation, Akwu also alleged that his Toyota Corolla was set ablaze on October 28, 2025, and appealed for urgent intervention, as he warned that his life was under threat. True to his fear, the young man’s life was eventually terminated on January 2, in the most brutal manner.
Police intervention
The killing has no doubt plunged Okon-Aku community into mourning and turmoil, with tensions flaring high. Akwu’s death has led to the burning of houses of some prominent people in the area.
To douse the tension, the police took over the community and arrested four persons it alleged were connected to the murder of the young man and the crisis that erupted later. The arrested persons include Ekea Udensi, Nmecha Udensi, Nnanna Offor, and David Ikpo.
A statement by the command’s spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka said police was aware of the incident in Okon Aku and have brought the situation under control. Police assured that suspects arrested in connection with the incident were undergoing interrogation and would be arranged in court as soon as investigation was concluded.
As police investigation commenced, there was outcry over the arrest of the four persons, saying they were arrested to settle some old political scores. Those who toed this line of argument accused the Deputy Governor of the State, Ikechukwu Emetu, who is from Ohafia, of undue meddlesomeness in the matter.
IGP’s counter directive
Following the arrest of the four persons and the attendant public outcry, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun was reported to have ordered the immediate release of the arrested persons, directing that they should be handed over to a special crack team of police officers dispatched from Abuja for further administrative procedures.
Sources hinted that an Abia senior government official’s attempt to halt the release, was resisted by police authorities, who cited the order of the IGP, for their action.
This was even as a Magistrate Court in Abia was said to have declined jurisdiction over an application seeking to remand those arrested in connection with the crisis in prison custody.
One of those who was arrested over the incident, Mrs Grace Udensi Kalu, after her release, said: “For those who know me and my journey, it is clear that I stand for peace, love, justice, and community progress. I therefore urge all parties to remain calm, law-abiding, and patient, and to allow the rule of law to take its full course.”
She called on the people of Okon Aku and other stakeholders to cooperate fully with investigators by providing factual and truthful information, stressing that only truth can bring lasting peace to the community.
Deputy governor reacts
In the awake of accusation of meddlesomeness in the crisis, the office of the Deputy Governor of the state reacted, exonerating him of any wrongdoing.
A statement credited to the office said attempts to associate the deputy governor with the communal violence were calculated acts of mischief, aimed at diverting attention from the real causes of the conflict and destabilising public trust.
The statement added that persistent attempts to link the deputy governor’s name to the crisis are unacceptable, stressing that “such actions are clearly intended to sow discord, inflame passions, and undermine harmony within government and the state at large.”.
The statement made it clear that the deputy governor is neither an indigene of Okon Aku village nor connected to the community’s internal leadership disputes, adding that the ongoing crisis which is rooted in a longstanding traditional leadership tussle predates the current administration.
“Emetu rather swiftly intervened after receiving reports of the violence, ensuring that injured victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, where they were receiving medical attention.”
The statement further revealed that the Ohafia Council of Monarchs, the highest traditional authority in the Ohafia Ancient Kingdom, has been actively intervening in the dispute and is currently managing the situation through established customary processes.
Abia govt inaugurates panel of enquiry
Abia State Government has risen to the challenge posed by the violence in Okon Aku community by inaugurating a seven-man administrative panel of enquiry to investigate the crisis that led to the killing of the young man. The panel has retired Justice Kenneth Wosu as Chairman.
Other members of the Panel include Navy Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd.), Obinna Chimbuo, Eze Kalu Ogbu, Eze Franklin Nwosu, Mr. Ahunaya George, and Mrs Charity Okeagu, who serves as the panel’s secretary
Inaugurating the panel in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu charged members to carry out their duties with diligence.
The commissioner said the panel would determine the remote and immediate causes of the unfortunate incident in Okon Aku.
According to the commissioner, “We are all aware that a couple of days back, there erupted a very serious community crisis in Okon Aku, in Ohafia, Local Government of Abia State, leading to loss of life, according to the pictures that we saw.
“And the community has been in disquiet since then. In the wisdom of this government, under the leadership of Dr. Alex Otti, it has been directed that this administrative panel of enquiry be empanelled in order to determine the remote and immediate causes of that conflict.”
The panel’s terms of reference include; “To investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis in Okon Aku Ohafia community, to identify individuals, groups, institutions or bodies directly or indirectly involved in the escalation of the conflict,
“To examine the role of the traditional institutions, youth groups, leadership structures and other stakeholders in the conflict, to review the administrative, socio-economic, cultural and security dimensions of the crisis.
“To recommend measures to ensure lasting peace, harmony, justice and communal cohesion, to recommend sanctions, where appropriate, against individuals, groups or bodies found culpable,
“To make any further recommendations deemed necessary in the interest of public peace and order and sustainable community relations.”
The panel was given 30 days to submit its report.
Responding, Chairman of the panel, retired Justice Wosu thanked Governor Otti for approving their membership of the panel.
He promised that the panel would carry out a thorough job that will ensure peace not only in Okon Aku community, but Abia state as a whole.
While all await the conclusion of the panel’s sitting and the submission of its report, the Akwu family believes there is more to the murder of their son than meets the eye.
