Fresh Tension over Anam Man Reportedly Killed After Abduction at Aguleri Timber Market

By Our Reporter

Tension has heightened around Otuocha following reports that a man from Umudora Anam, was allegedly abducted at a timber market near Aguleri Junction and subsequently killed amid the lingering crisis between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam.

Mr. Edochie Mike Egwuatu, was reportedly abducted last Saturday while purchasing planks at the market. According to unconfirmed accounts, he was tortured and killed, with his severed head allegedly paraded around the town.

The reported incident has heightened fears of possible reprisals, particularly as tensions remain high following a recent violent confrontation between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam over a disputed parcel of land at Otu Okpa Agba Beach.

Sources alleged that Egwuatu’s reported abduction and killing could be connected to a wider campaign of secret hunt for persons with blood ties to Umuoba Anam in the aftermath of the recent crisis.

Before the reported abduction of Umudora man, two other indigenes of Umuoba Anam, identified as Mr. Ifeanyi Onyeaka Amanyi and Mr. Chunwike Anakpulu, had reportedly been declared missing since the outbreak of the crisis.

According to a family account, Egwuatu had travelled to the timber market to purchase planks when he was allegedly abducted by some youths in Aguleri. The allegations surrounding these incidents have not been independently verified.

Umuoba Anam President-General Raises Alarm

Reacting to the development, the President-General of Umuoba Anam, Hon. Uchenna Anizor, described the reported killing as a serious setback to ongoing efforts to restore peace between the affected communities.

Anizor expressed concern that the incident could undermine the peace process initiated by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

“We strongly believe that no harm would come to him and our other brothers who are missing. Killing him or anybody from Umuoba Anam at this stage will be a big blow to the peace process which our dear governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has initiated,” he said.

He appealed to those allegedly holding people from Anam to release them in the interest of peace.

“We are, therefore, appealing to our brothers from Aguleri to return everyone in their custody to Anam in the interest of peace,” Anizor added.

Blogger Shares Uncle’s Emotional Appeal for Missing Anam Man

A popular Aguleri-based blogger, Uju Edochie, has appealed to youths in the community to help establish the whereabouts of Egwuatu and facilitate his safe return.

Edochie brought the incident to public attention after sharing a voice message she received from Egwuatu’s uncle, who recounted the family’s account of the alleged abduction and appealed for the man’s safe return.

In the message, the uncle explained that Egwuatu had travelled to the timber market near Aguleri Junction to purchase planks but failed to return home.

According to the uncle’s account, the family initially struggled to establish the identity of the person reportedly abducted amid rumours that an Anam indigene had been captured. The family subsequently became concerned after Egwuatu’s wife confirmed that her husband had gone to purchase planks but had not returned.

The uncle further alleged that the family later received information that Egwuatu had been killed.

He claimed that the man had maternal ties to Aguleri and questioned why he would be targeted while visiting the area to purchase building materials.

“He went to purchase woods at Timber Market, Aguleri Junction, and was abducted. We heard it was a set-up, that they used the purchase of the planks to lure him to the place. Nobody knows who planned it,” the uncle said in the account shared by Edochie.

The uncle also alleged that inquiries had been made to establish Egwuatu’s community of origin, but the man was reportedly killed despite claims that he was from Umudora Anam rather than Umuoba Anam.

Expressing his pain over the incident, he questioned why his nephew would be attacked while conducting an ordinary business transaction.

“We don’t have any issue with Aguleri people,” he said.

He also recalled an earlier incident in which, according to his account, a pastor from Umudora Anam who was married to an Aguleri woman was abducted and killed.

Questioning the circumstances surrounding the reported incident, he asked: “Is it a bad thing that he went to patronise his maternal people? The reward he got was death. That is very painful to me.”

The uncle appealed to Edochie to help draw attention to the case and plead with Aguleri residents to ensure his nephew’s safe return if he was still alive.

“Help me beg Aguleri people. If they had not killed him, let them return him because our people are waiting,” he pleaded.

Following the appeal, Edochie urged Aguleri youths to assist in tracing Egwuatu and establishing the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

She stressed that the reported incident should not be allowed to worsen relations between Aguleri and other Anam communities.

In her appeal, the blogger distinguished the land dispute involving Aguleri and Umuoba Anam from the relationship between Aguleri and other Anam communities.

“Aguleri and other Anams don’t have an issue. It’s Aguleri Amaeze and Umuoba Anam that have a land crisis,” she said.

Edochie appealed to anyone allegedly holding Egwuatu to release him if he was still alive.

“Those holding him, if he is still alive, please release him. We don’t have any issue with other Anam communities except Umuoba Anam,” she said.

She further argued that Egwuatu should not have been targeted for travelling to Aguleri to purchase planks, despite the tensions surrounding the land dispute.

The blogger also urged her kinsmen to refrain from actions that could undermine the peace process.

In an emotional message directed at Aguleri residents, she said:

“Please, this video is for Ndị Aguleri, Aguleri Enyimba. You are the people I’m making this video for. I’m doing this video with a heavy heart and pains.”

Edochie called on community members to help establish the facts surrounding the incident and prevent further escalation.

Reported Killing Raises Fresh Concerns Over Peace Efforts

The reported abduction and alleged killing have raised fresh concerns about the safety of residents as efforts continue to resolve the dispute between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam.

The appeals by Anizor and Edochie reflect growing calls for restraint, the return of missing persons and a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

The development also underscores concerns that attacks on individuals because of their community of origin could widen divisions and undermine reconciliation efforts.

As of the time of filing this report, the allegations surrounding Egwuatu’s reported abduction and killing had not been independently verified. The circumstances of his alleged death and the identities of those responsible remain unconfirmed.

Relevant authorities and community leaders are expected to establish the facts surrounding the incident, investigate the reported disappearance and take appropriate steps to protect residents.

Stakeholders have continued to emphasise the need to prevent retaliatory violence and sustain the peace process initiated to resolve the lingering tensions.

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