Tragedy, 4 persons killed by unknown gunmen laid to rest in Ebonyi

By Ann Arbor, Abakaliki Ekpaomaka community in kwo Nnoyo Local Government Area, Ebonyi state was thrown into mourning and anguish on Thursday, 4th August , 2022 when four persons killed by suspected unknown gunmen was laid to rest.

The executive chairman of the council , Elder (Hon) Stephen Orogwu was a Chief mourner who lost his late elder brother, Mr. James Egwu Orogwu (75), his two sons of Chigbogu (26) and Sunday Orogwu (19), and another relative Mr Kelechi Nwauji (27) were reportedly murdered by the assailants on the night of 17th May while in their compound. In his sermon at the burial service, The Moderator, East Central Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Rt Rev Ikenga Agwu Ndukwe called on all men and women to live good lives knowing that they would face judgement in the last day.

He charged the bereaved family to trust the faithfulness of God who alone can console and fill the vacuum created by the death of their beloved ones. In a tribute, MacDonald Orogwu, son of Mr. James Orogwu, explained how his father was to be honoured with a "best father award" by his church on June 22, 2022 only to be murdered a month prior. He further explained how the man's hardworking and resilience is responsible for the greatness now seen in the Orogwu family. On his part, Hon. Steve Orogwu described his late Elder Brother as a patriot, who loved his people and the simple life of the village, had abandoned his American citizenship to stay closer to his people only to be met by so untoward a killing.

Delivering his condolence message, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi who was represented by the Deputy Governor Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, commiserated with the Orogwu family and stated that while the government will have no sleep till all criminals face the law, the God who knows everything will expose the unknown gunmen who murdered Hon. Orogwu's relatives. Speaking further he said: "To Orogwu, know that this is the price of leadership. Sometimes, calamites will befall a leader by the conspiracies of men out of jealousy and envy. But know that if men celebrate that they have done their worst, the worst shall come upon them. This shall be but a tulip to the rising of your star and people shall say 'Orogwu has risen again'. "Because you couldn't allow them to aggravate and increase the enterprise of evil, they came after you but for doing so evil a thing, evil shall pursue them. I pray that the Almighty God shall cause the blood of these innocent ones to go after those who took away their lives." He assured the people that the government has unleashed all arsenals against the merchants of insecurity and has thus far been able to uproot evil and evildoers from most parts of the state. The government, he said is committed to the security and safety of the people. The people, therefore, should go about their lawful businesses without fear. He noted that traps had been set for evil doers and very soon "we shall expose them to the people of Ebonyi State." Barr Igwe encouraged the people to be at alert, report the activities of evil people operating in their area and be rest assured that anyone that say the people will not sleep shall not sleep themselves. He called on youths, parents and society at large to play active roles in ending insecurity. Youths should cautious their mates, and report those involved in the enterprise of evil to the appropriate authorities. Parents have a responsibility to raise their children right and the society has a responsibility to know that security is everyone's business. The burial service was punctuated by heavy rainfall of tears. The multitudes gathered were clearly affected by so great a tragedy.