An Ozo title ceremony in Amakor village, Nanka Community of Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State, turned violent when gunmen stormed the event, kidnapping eight people and leaving twelve others injured.
The attack occurred during the initiation ceremony of several individuals into the Ozo society.
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Barrister Emmanuel Ilo, one of the Ozo titleholders present, described the incident as a chaotic and terrifying experience.
“I narrowly escaped with my life when the gunmen attacked,” Ilo recounted, attributing his escape to divine intervention.
According to Ilo, the policemen stationed at the event tried to fend off the attackers but were quickly overwhelmed.
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The gunmen, some allegedly dressed in police uniforms, began assaulting the participants and organizers without any prior warning or explanation.
They caused widespread panic, destroying the setup at the venue and brutally beating several attendees.
After the violent assault, the gunmen abducted eight people, including the Amakor village Chairman, Barrister Obinna Ilo, along with other prominent community members such as Emerie Ilo, Sam Eminike, and Chief Asina Okafor.
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The victims were forced into waiting Sienna vehicles and driven to an unknown location. Several other attendees managed to flee and have since gone into hiding.
The families of the kidnapped individuals remain in a state of distress, as no contact has been made, and the abductees’ phone lines have been switched off.
The identities and motives of the abductors remain unclear, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.
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The attack occurred just as the ceremony was reaching its peak, with Mr. Peter Emerie Ilo and Chike Ilo, brothers of Barrister Obinna Ilo, along with Madueke Nwafor, being initiated into the Ozo society.
The attackers, some of whom had their faces covered, were reportedly accompanied by community members, including former village Chairman Mr. Chinedu Nwankwo and Caretaker Committee Chairman Mr. Ejike Nwafor.
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When contacted, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, stated that he was not aware of the incident.
Addressing allegations that some of the assailants were dressed in police uniforms, Tochukwu clarified, “Police do not kidnap or abduct. If these individuals were arrested, the police would have notified their families and allowed them to make calls. We do not operate in that manner.”
