AKUNYILI’S MURDER: Senator Ekwunife raises alarm over killings in South East

Senator Uche Ekwunife, representing Anambra Central District in the National Assembly Abuja, has raised an alarm that lots of gruesome attacks and killings had been going on around the entire South East region of the country.

Ekwinufe’s concern was coming following the brutal killing of Medical Director of St. Leo Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Chike Akunyili, by killers suspected to be members of terrorist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Tuesday, at Afor Nkpor in Anambra State.

The deceased was the husband of a former Director General of National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Minister of Information and Communication, late Prof. Dora Akunyili.

Senator Ekwunife, while formerly announcing the murder of the late Akunyili through point of order during plenary on Wednesday, specifically noted that such killings were rampant in Anambra, Enugu and Imo states.

Coming under order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules – Personal Explanation, she noted with concern that “on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Dr. Chike Akunyili was gunned down in a most gruesome and very horrifying manner at Afor Nkpor, Anambra State.”

The lawmaker informed that the late Dr. Akunyili until his death, was the Medical Director of St. Leo Hospital Enugu.

She noted that he also was an established academician, medical director and one who had contributed to the development of healthcare in Nigeria.

Narrating the circumstance which led to his death, Ekwunife said, “Dr. Akunyili went to Onitsha to present a paper and receive an award at the memorial lecture put together by civil society organisation in honor of his late wife, Prof. Dora Akunyili and was gruesomely attacked at Nkpor on his way home.”

Consequently, the lawmaker urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba and other law enforcement agencies to step up action towards unraveling perpetrators of the gruesome killings in Anambra State and other South East states under the name of unknown gunmen.

She also urged state governors of the South East to sit up to their responsibilities of ensuring safety of life and properties of the citizens as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Accordingly, the upper legislative chamber observed a minute silence to mourn the death of the medical director.

The DEFENDER reports that although some opposition South East leaders claim IPOB terrorism requires political solution and want the leader, Nnamdi Kanu, released from detention, the terrorists have been seen in videos carry out unprintable killings in the last few days.