The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the tragic murder of 48-year-old Mr. Micheal Nnaji, originally from Amuri in the Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu State, who lived in Ngbo Amaka within the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO DSP Joshua Ukandu who confirmed the incident said that on getting the information, he contacted the Ohaukwu Police Divisional Headquarters and the team immediately moved to the scene of the incident for investigation.
He maintained that he is yet to be briefed on the details of the incident and assured that the State Police Command will carry out in in-depth investigation into the crime and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted.
Mr. Nnaji, a businessman and a member of the local security in Ngbo Community was said to have been shot twice by the hoodlums who invaded his business area at about 9:45p.m Tuesday Night.
A family source who spoke on the grounds of anonymity said the hoodlums numbering 2 operated with a motorcycle and were also masked.
“We were at the shop, at about 9:45p.m, 2 young men zoomed into the compound wearing mask, 1 came in from the front door while the other came in from the back door. Immediately, they made their way to the parlour where Mike was relaxing and shot him twice.
“Immediately I heard the gunshot, I rushed out from the backward and one of them grabbed me, collected my phone and was dragging me to the house but as God will have it, I freed myself from him and ran to the nearby compound.
“As a result of the gunshot, most of the residents of the area all scampered for safety living him and the hoodlums. After the shooting him, the hoodlums set him ablaze inside the house and zoomed off
“Out of fear, nobody came around for his rescue and his corpse was severely burnt. Other household items including two deep freezers, television sets, chairs, tables, fan, cooking utensils, cash and other items were all completely burnt.”
She maintained that Mr. Mike who has been residing in the community for a good number of years before his death has been a quiet and jovial man and wondered why people will mete out such barbaric act on him.
The community leader who also spoke on grounds of anonymity, called on security agencies in the State to ensure justice is served to the perpetrators of the crime adding that the incessant killings in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State was becoming alarming.
The remains of the deceased as been evacuated from the scene of the incident to the Ezzamgbo General Hospital mortuary while residents of the community were seen in clusters discussing the ugly incident.
Meanwhile, the Ohaukwu Local Government Council Chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Odono were among the early callers to the scene of the incident.