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…Police confirms killing of Oyibo Chukwu

…Human lives must remain precious, irrespective of political affiliation -Obi

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…Violence has no place in 21st century democracy -Nweke

…This is an attempt by desperate politicians to disenfranchise the indigenes of Enugu East Senatorial Zone using tool of violence -Okenwa

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

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Following the murder of the Labour Party (LP)’s senatorial candidate for Enugu East senatorial zone, Barr. Oyibo Chukwu, and his personal assistant, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, the Enugu State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Frank Nweke Jr and the Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum have all condemned the unfortunate incident and called on security operatives to ensure protection of the lives and properties of Nigerians before, during and after the elections.

Chukwu was murdered on the night of Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu.

Reacting via his twitter handle, Mr. Obi condoled with the family of Late Oyibo Chukwu.

Obi’s statement reads: “I received with deep shock and sadness, the news of the painful killing of Barr Oyibo Chukwu, the Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party, for Enugu East Senatorial Zone.

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“I strongly condemn the killing of Barr Chukwu in all its entirety. Human lives must remain precious, irrespective of political affiliation. The mindless bloodletting that occurs in the nation is beyond depressing. We must not continue to toe this dangerous path.

“Enough of the killings, now is time for healing. I sincerely condole with the bereaved family, the Enugu East Senatorial Zone and our dear Labour Party family, for this painful loss.

“I call on the law enforcement agents to fish out and bring to book, the perpetrators of this crime, and ensure that Nigerians freely exercise their civic duties without intimidation.”

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On his part, the Enugu State APGA flagbearer, Frank Nweke Jr. expressed shock over Chukwu’s painful death. Nweke stated that violence had no place in 21st century democracy.

His statement reads: “I am stunned and deeply saddened by the news of the murder of Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East and several others in a gruesome attack on Wednesday night by Amechi junction in Enugu.

“We also received reports of a similar attack on a campaign vehicle of the People’s Democratic Party, leaving one person dead.

“I condemn these heinous acts and send my condolences to the families and friends of the victims. No ambition is worth the life of any individual, and our politics must evolve past this insatiable thirst for power. Violence has no place in 21st century democracy.

“These violent attacks leave deep scars on our growing democracy and seek to undermine the importance of the 2023 general elections by instilling fear in the hearts of our people.

“I encourage ndi Enugu and, indeed, Nigerians to stay calm as we urge the authorities to speedily move forward with a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to book without fear or favour.

“Our security agencies must also intensify measures to forestall further attacks and ensure that Nigerians – politicians and electorates alike, are protected throughout the elections.

“These are trying times, and we must keep praying for our state and our nation.

“God bless Enugu State. God bless Nigeria”.

Also, speaking on the heinous murder of the LP candidate, the leader of a socio-cultural group, Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum, CISF, Mr. Chukwuma Okenwa, accused desperate politicians of trying to suppress voters through the instrumentality of electoral violence.

“The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum(CISF) is saddened with the gruesome killing of the Enugu East Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party. We as Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum(CISF) condemn this act.

“It as an attempt by desperate politicians to disenfranchise the indigenes of Enugu East Senatorial Zone using the tool of violence”, part of Okenwa’s statement read.

While calling on the security agencies and Traditional rulers to work together towards bringing the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book, Okenwa called on the people of the South East, not to allow anyone to disenfranchise them using the ploy of violence.

He called on the young people of the region, to turn down offers by desperate politicians who promote the culture of violence before, during and after elections.

Police confirms killing of Oyibo Chukwu

The Enugu Police Command spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the killing of Barr. Oyibo Chukwu in an early Thursday statement.

He said the incident happened Wednesday when the assailants on a Hilux vehicle, attacked and set ablaze Chukwu’s campaign vehicle.

The spokesman said they “attacked and set ablaze the campaign vehicle of the Labour Party, at Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu, burning to death the Party’s Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Barr. Oyibo Chukwu (male) and his Personal Assistant (male) who was with him in the vehicle.

“However, the miscreants were repelled by security operatives while attempting to also attack the convoy of the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at Eke, Agbani, Nkanu West LGA.”

During the attack, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also murdered while the convoy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Enugu State Uche Nnaji was also affected.

“Preliminary investigations into the incidents show that the armed hoodlums, operating in a tricycle, attacked a PDP campaign Mini Bus at Topland by Ebony Paint Road, Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu and used petrol bomb to set it ablaze, burning to death its driver, simply identified as one KC Great (male),” the statement added.

In the wake of the attack, the Enugu State Police Commissioner Ahmed Ammani who visited the scenes of the incidents has ordered an investigation into it.

The Commissioner, while strongly condemning the barbaric acts, has commiserated with the parties and family members of the deceased, vowing to ensure that the perpetrators are fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law,” Ndukwe added.