Tension as Gunmen Murder Popular Chief, His Two Wives and Daughter in Anambra Community

By Praise Chinecherem

Palpable tension has enveloped residents of Isseke community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State following the gruesome murder of a prominent man, his two wives, and daughter by unidentified gunmen.  

The slain included Chief Kennedy Igboanugo (Ichie Akuruoulo 1 of Isseke), his two wives, and his daughter were sleeping at their residence in Ekwuru Isseke, according to an eyewitness account, when the killers invaded their home, killing them in cold blood and leaving their lifeless bodies on the floor of their rooms.

 The incident took place in the early hours of Friday, May 23^rd 2025.

A police source, while confirming the incident, said the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and deposited at the morgue. The source added that a joint security team has been deployed to prevent further incidents.

“Preliminary information suggests the gunmen attacked the family unprovoked. The bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited at the morgue, and investigations are ongoing.

“The command has expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims and is working to apprehend the perpetrators.

“The area has been reinforced by the joint security team, and further developments will be communicated as the investigations unfold,” the source revealed.

Daughter of the deceased, who identified herself as Chelsea Mary, also broke the story on her social media page:  “Black Friday… My dad, my mum, my step mum, my sister, all gone. God why me? May 23rd, 2025,” Chelsea painfully wrote.

She described her once loving and peaceful family as the center of her world. Her touching words reveal the depth of pain and confusion she now bears: “They made me an orphan and speechless at the same time… My peaceful parents are no more. I hustle daily so I can put smiles on these beautiful faces, but my strength failed me now.”

The atmosphere in Isseke became heavy with grief as mourners trooped into the family compound, struggling to believe the shocking reality.

Aroma Eze, a close family friend, commented in tears: “I cried and said to myself why? When will all this end? I imagined how Uju will be at the moment… I wept into the night. These peaceful couples are gone. Chim ogini bu nkaaaa…”

Nkechinyere Violet Nwelue also voiced her outrage: “How can you kill a whole family and feel comfortable doing that? And the worst part is that the government isn’t doing anything about this killing. This is too much for one person to handle. Nigeria oooooh.”