Dr John Chike Akunyili
By Our Reporter
There had been conflicting statements issued by Cyril Akunyili, brother of murdered Dr. John Chike Akunyili and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over who killed the husband of the late Director General of the The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Mrs. Dora Akunyili.
While Cyril claimed that IPOB killed his elder brother through a post on Facebook, “IPOB killed my senior brother. Why? Husband of Professor Dora Akunyili is dead. IPOB Why on a Tuesday” he wrote.
.IPOB issued a statement distancing self from the gruesome murder of the deceased.
IPOB alleged that the death of Dr Akunyili was a pure political assassination.
The group stressed that those behind the incident are contesting for the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
The statement in part reads: “Those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband killed his wife with poison. They are Fulani because she exposed Yar’adua’s death for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take over as President of failed Nigeria.
Cyril later deleted the post on Facebook and when asked why he deleted the post accusing IPOB of killing his brother, he said “I was not on the spot to accuse any one. Let us wait for police investigations,” he responded.
The police also issued a statement not making any specific accusation.
The statement blamed “unknown gunmen” for the dastardly killing in Nkpor Anambra state.
According to a statement by Police PRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, which was released on behalf of the police commissioner, Tony Olofu, the gunmen seemed to have lost every iota of human conscience and sensibility.
The Police statement said that at about 5.00p.m. around the Nkpor Roundabout and without any provocation, some gunmen attacked and shot a police inspector attached to a Very Important Personality (VIP).
“At Afor Nkpor Junction, three unidentified bodies were recovered, a burnt Toyota Hilux and a vandalised Toyota Hummer bus were also seen at the crime scene.
“The lifeless bodies were taken to the hospital and regrettably one of the bodies was identified as one Dr Chike Akunyili”, Ikenga said in the statement.
In a related development, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has placed a N20 million bounty on Akunyili’s killers
.The governor spoke in a live broadcast on Wednesday. He said “to reinforce government’s commitment and seriousness on this issue, the State Government, wished to announce a N20,000,000 reward for any useful information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of these heinous attacks on our state”
He added that the people behind the killing; must be unmasked and brought to book.
He urged citizens to report to government anybody bearing firearm who is not a security or vigilante personnel, so government could deal with this monster, once and for all.
“I wish to most heartily condole with the families of all those who have lost their loved ones in the course of these senseless attacks.
“I promise you that we will leave no stone unturned in getting justice for them. May their souls rest in peace. Finally, I urge all citizens of the state to unite in this fight against all forms of terror, intimidation and tyranny,” he said.
Oviano said his government would not succumb to invaders as he was convinced that no Anambra son would indulge in this kind of heartlessness.
He warned all those promoting and participating in these violent attacks to leave the state or pay a high price as government would definitely catch up with them.
The governor lamented that since last weekend, some armed persons had unleashed terror with sporadic attacks on innocent citizens in various parts of the State.
He said from the briefings he received from Security Commanders, offices of some political parties, branded campaign vehicles and individuals occupying them had been attacked with killings and burning of vehicles.
“Between Sunday 26th and yesterday 28th September, 2021 attacks on citizens at Oko, Agulu, Obosi, Nkpor, Nnobi, Nnewi and other places have left about 10.people dead, including an illustrious son of this State, Dr Chike Akunyili, husband of late Prof Dora Akunyili who was reportedly gunned down yesterday around Nkpor,” he decried.
