Cultists responsible for Ex-Anambra lawmaker’s death say community leaders
Late Anthony Igboka
A former Anambra State lawmaker, Anthony Igboka, killed last Tuesday by yet-to-be-apprehended gunmen, might have been a victim of cultism said to be ravaging Nimo community.
The state police command had yet to make any arrest in connection with the murder of the former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, it was learnt on Saturday.
Some leaders of Nimo community, who spoke with newsmen on condition of anonymity, said Igboka must have been killed by cultists terrorising the community, whose activities he was trying to stamp out.
One of the leaders said, “His killing has nothing to do with chieftaincy issue in our community. His killing should rather be attributed to a running battle with the bad boys in the town. Those boys were jubilant the night he was killed. Without Igboka, the cult boys would have overrun the town long ago.”
Another leader also debunked the claim by the police that the victim was returning from a place he went to have his dinner when he was attacked at the Oye Nimo village market.
“He was coming from a relaxation joint inside the Nimo secretariat where he usually stayed with friends,” he said.
But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Haruna Mohammed, told newsmen that they were on top of the situation, adding that the outcome of investigation into the matter would be made public at the appropriate time.
Asked whether the killing had any link with politics, Mohammed declined comment, saying, “The case is still under investigation. You will be informed of any update.”
Igboka, who was the President-General of Nimo community, it was gathered, had a running battle with some “bad boys” in the community.
About three years ago, he reportedly escaped being kidnapped in his house after disarming five hoodlums who stormed his residence to abduct him.
The state governor, Willie Obiano, had offered a bounty of N5m for anybody who could provide useful information that would lead to the arrest of the ex-lawmaker’s killers.
