It was a heart-rending scenario at Enugwu village in Nsugbe Community, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday, as the remains of two youths murdered during an invasion of the community by some youths of neighbouring community, Umueri, were laid to rest.
Late Mr Chukwurah Nweze aged 53 and late Prince Gozie Anyansi aged 36, had left their homes in the early hours of November 22, without knowing the sad fate that awaits them.
They were said to have been shot dead by some youths from Umueri community, around Monastery Junction, Nsugbe, where the irate youths were said to have invaded and were destroying property.
It was gathered that the invasion was triggered by a boundary dispute between both communities.
It however took the intervention of men of the Nsugbe Vigilante Group, to repel the rampaging youths, and in the process, two Umueri youths sustained various gun injuries.
Anambra State Government through the Office of the State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, had waded into the matter, summoning the leadership of both communities, to find ways of brokering peace and addressing the matter.
However, at the burial yesterday, nerves were frayed as youths showed their anger over the unfortunate fate suffered by their fallen brothers.
Tears flowed uncontrollably, as family members and loved ones bemoaned the termination of the young lives for no just course by youths from their neighbouring communities, who they said, they have always shown love.
An elderly woman who described the deaths as painful said; “These are our neighbours who we provided succour when they faced wars and crises with other communities around them. Today, they are attacking us.
”Nsugbe Orula is not known for violence. We are peaceful people and maintain good neighbourliness.
“So, we are still at a loss as to how people we have shown so much love will turn around and stab us in the back,” she said.
On her part, the Convener, Umuada Nsugbe Orula, Hon. Mrs. Eucharia Attah, said they have committed the matter into God’s hands as well as called on government to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book.
“We believe that God is the ultimate and that was why the Umuada Nsugbe held a prayer session and peaceful protest throughout the community, to call on the God of vengeance to fight our battles.
“The onus is now on government, to investigate the matter and bring these killers of our children to face the full wrath of the law. The deaths of our children will surely bring us good fortunes, we believe. It must not be in vain,” she said.
The President, Nsugbe Youth Assembly, Comrade Chidi Obiudu, who was present at the burial with youths of the community, said their presence was to ensure that nobody uses the ceremony to perpetrate any form of violence that will worsen the already bad situation.
“I know that our people are angered and I have pleaded with them to be patient and avoid any act that will jeopardize the processes the government is taking to arrest the situation.
“Nsugbe is peace-loving and in the face of provocation, we must not lose our cool and act in ways that are unbecoming and I thank God that Nsugbe youths listened to my plea and maintained peace.
“We are looking up to the government to expedite action on the matter, to ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied for these our slain brothers,” he said.
Amidst tears, the remains of the murdered youths were eventually committed to Mother Earth at the ripe of the day.
