By Prince Eddie-Johns Okorie – Guidepost News International
Ebonyi State was thrown into mourning on Thursday, 28th August 2025, as Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru presided over a solemn state burial for eleven Ebonyi indigenes brutally murdered by unknown gunmen in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The heart-wrenching ceremony, held at Unity Square in Abakaliki, was marked by grief and anguish as white-draped coffins of the victims lay in rows. Government officials, families, friends, and sympathizers gathered to pay their last respects.
Reacting to the killings, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide, Prince Solomon Okorie, strongly condemned the gruesome massacre, describing it as a senseless and barbaric act targeting innocent Ebonyi businessmen residing in Orumba. He called on leaders across Igboland to urgently rise against the growing hostility among Igbo communities, stressing that “no part of Igbo land should be unsafe for fellow Igbos.”
“This is a clear attack on Igbo brotherhood. We must not sit in silence while our people are butchered in another man’s land—especially within our own ethnic group,” Prince Okorie stated. He urged the Anambra State Government to swiftly identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Prince Okorie also praised Governor Nwifuru for according the departed souls a dignified state burial, describing it as a powerful gesture of respect and unity. Most importantly, he commended the governor for empowering the widows of the slain victims with financial support, noting that such direct intervention would go a long way in helping the affected families rebuild their lives.
Governor Nwifuru, visibly emotional at the burial, condemned the killings in strong terms and expressed deep concern over the continued targeting of Ebonyi citizens in Anambra and other parts of Igboland. He lamented the lack of progress in the investigation, weeks after the tragedy, with no arrests made so far.
He warned Anambarians to stop “the drum of war” being beaten against Ebonyians who live and conduct legitimate business in Anambra State. In a bold statement, he reminded the Anambra government that “he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones,” revealing that over fifty percent of the houses in Abakaliki, Ebonyi’s capital, belong to Anambra indigenes.
Governor Nwifuru demanded that Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra caution his people, warning that Ebonyians will no longer tolerate inhumane treatment.
As part of immediate relief efforts, the governor announced a donation of ₦5 million to each of the 12 bereaved families—amounting to ₦60 million—directed specifically toward small-scale businesses within Ebonyi State.
“This is not just assistance—it is empowerment,” Nwifuru said. “It’s to ensure that widows and children left behind do not have to leave Ebonyi for survival. We must not migrate to places where our lives are at risk.”
He also issued a passionate call for unity across Igboland, warning against marginalization, intimidation, and internal divisions fueling insecurity among the Igbo.
“We cannot afford to treat one another as second-class citizens. Igbos must learn to respect, love, and accommodate each other. Any act of maltreatment or division only weakens us and leads to more bloodshed. An injury to one Igbo man is an injury to all Igbos,” he warned.
Among the victims were mostly young men, some newly married, leaving behind widows and orphans. One of the most heartbreaking stories was that of 20-year-old Mrs. Ofim, now widowed with infants.
Prayers were offered for the repose of the deceased before their bodies were taken for final burial in their various hometowns.
It will be recalled that the victims were ambushed and murdered shortly after their monthly meeting in Ogboji. Months after the gruesome massacre, there have been no arrests, deepening frustration and calls for justice.
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