A councillor representing Owerre Ezukala community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State was on Saturday shot dead by unidentified gunmen at a polling unit during the ongoing governorship election.
The attack occurred around 1:30 p.m. at Owerre Ezukala Ward 1, abruptly ending what had been a peaceful voting process in the area.
Witnesses told reporters that the assailants stormed the polling centre and opened fire on the councillor just as he attempted to cast his vote. Panic spread through the crowd as voters and election officials fled for safety.
Community leaders confirmed the incident, describing it as a shocking breach of security on election day.
Odogwu Odemenna, a prominent community leader, said tension had overtaken the area following the killing.
“My ward is in chaos right now,” he said. “The councillor was shot dead this afternoon while trying to vote. People are furious. Security personnel were around, but the attackers still carried out their mission and escaped.”
Odemenna said security agencies had been informed and that soldiers and police officers were combing surrounding villages in search of the gunmen.
“Today shouldn’t have allowed this kind of lapse. The election was calm until this tragedy occurred,” he added.
Another community leader, who asked not to be named, also confirmed the occurrence, stating that the attackers targeted the councillor directly before fleeing the area.
“At Ward 1, some armed men drove in, shot him, and left immediately. It was clearly targeted,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Police Command had yet to officially comment on the incident. Calls and messages sent to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, were unanswered.
UPDATE
According to an Eyewitness, the name of the Councillor is Nze Ala kuru Orji who was also a Chieftain of APGA. Bellow is a picture of the deceased.
COURTESY: politicsnigeria
