- Enugu Vigilante allegedly murder two friends over allegation of highway robbery
- Residents, relations call on Inspector General of Police, Presidency, demand for justice
- Enugu Police Command say they are yet to receive the report of the incident
For Mrs. Nmesoma Omeke of Aguibeje community, Igbo-Eze North local government area of Enugu state, 2024 Christmas would indeed be one of the most memorable one. On December 16, 2024, he and her husband Stanley Omeke have gone out to Ogrute, the headquarters of the council area to make some shopping preparatory for the Christmas festivities.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that they have gone out to give themselves a treat for the forthcoming festivities oblivious of the fact that evil happening was lurching on their doorstep.
Narrating the ugly incident to our reporter, Mrs. Omeke explained that she and her husband had gone shopping for Christmas on that fateful day. Returning home around 5 p.m., they stopped at Aji Junction to take a commercial bike. Suddenly, Vigilante members arrived, demanding that Stanley follow them.
“They shouted at my husband to get on their bike. When we asked what he had done, they refused to answer. They even tried to beat him. I told him to follow them to avoid further trouble, and I went to seek help from one of his friend,” She recounted.
Narrating further, Mrs. Omeke stressed that “when they have taken him away, I had to call one of his best friends by name Kingsley Igbonasi Odo-Okoro from Aji community. Kingsley was touched by the ugly incident and he had to meet them at the Vigilante Group’s office at Ogrute, the headquarters of the council area.”
Mrs. Omeke told our reporter that “the following day, news spread like wild fire that these two persons have been unlawfully gunned down by these security agents. They were shot dead after being leveled with all sorts of murderous and heinous allegations.”
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that since the incident happened on December 16, 2024, it has led to serious outcry by the families of the victims who are alleging that the vigilantes acted unlawfully and concocted a false narrative to justify the killings.
Kingsley’s wife, devastated by the events, said that her husband left their home shortly after Nmesoma informed him of Stanley’s arrest. He headed to the vigilante office to investigate but never returned.
Explaining further she said that “the next day, rumors spread that the vigilantes had taken both men to Okpo Union Primary School in Aji and shot them dead. What we heard was that the vigilante group claimed the men had been caught robbing vehicles on the highway.
However, Kingsley’s stepbrother, Arinze Odo-Okoro strongly disputed the allegations. “We live in this community. If there had been any robbery, we would know. This is just a false story to justify their actions,” he said.
Arinze insists that justice must be served. “Even the government takes criminals to court. How can a vigilante group execute people without trial? We are appealing to the Inspector General of Police, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, and President Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.”
Jude Omeke, Stanley’s brother, revealed that he was informed about the killings by a phone call. When he contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Igboeze North, he was told that the vigilantes handed over two corpses, claiming the men were highway robbers killed by soldiers. However, the vigilantes later admitted to shooting the men during an alleged gunfight.
Jude vehemently questioned the narrative. “Where is the gun my brother supposedly used in the robbery? If there was a gunfight, where are the weapons? My brother is not a criminal. This was a premeditated killing.”
The families expressed frustration over the vigilantes’ unchecked power, stressing that it was very unfortunate that innocent citizens will continue to lose their lives in the hands of power-drunken security personnel.
Asked if there was any dispute between his deceased brother and the Vigilante group to warrant this alleged hasty extrajudicial killing, he narrated that “Stanley had a pending court case against the vigilantes over some maltreatment. I suggest this might have been the motive behind the killings.”
Decrying the spate of extrajudicial murder in the area, he said that “This is not the first time innocent people are being killed under false pretenses in Enugu Ezike,” Jude said. The security group has become a law unto themselves.”
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that both families are demanding accountability and transparency. “I don’t know if my husband is dead or alive,” Nmesoma said, her voice breaking. “I just want to know what happened to him. My children and I need answers.”
Arinze added, “Justice is all we ask for. If they believe these men committed crimes, let them provide evidence and follow due process. What happened here is nothing short of murder.”
When contacted, the Spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, said he was not aware of the incident as he does not have such report.
