The murder of the 55-year-old Customary Court judge further tells of the security challenge in Imo State.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Police in Imo State have begun a manhunt for the killers of a Customary Court Judge, Nnaemeka Ugboma.
Gunmen invaded the judge’s courtroom on Thursday while he was presiding over a matter, dragged him out, shot him in the head and zoomed off.
The incident happened at Ejemekwuru in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Henry Okoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Friday, “We have commenced investigation to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act in order to bring them to justice.”
It was gathered that some soldiers rushed down to the scene and took the victim to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.
The murder of the 55-year-old Customary Court Chairman further tells of the security challenge in Imo.
On January 24, gunmen attacked and killed Christian Ihim, the APC Chairman in Umuchoke ward in Okwe, Onuimo Local Government Area of the state.
The attackers reportedly also kidnapped five other chieftains of the party in the community.
Earlier on January 19, gunmen attacked and kidnapped the Sole Administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area, Christopher Ohizu.
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Ohizu, who was kidnapped in his residence in Arondizuogu, alongside two others, also had his building and vehicles, razed down by the gunmen.
Also, on December 15, 2022, the Labour Party candidate for Onuimo State Constituency, Christopher Elehu, was killed after the gunmen set his Okwe country home ablaze.
A fortnight ago, gunmen attacked a Police checkpoint at Ihitte Junction on Owerri-Aba Road, Owerri, killing a female police sergeant, Chinyere Obialor, during a gun duel.
Meanwhile, Imo State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ugochukwu Alinnor, has described the killing of the judge as “unjustified and alien to us as a people.”
“These are desperate times and desperate measures must be taken,” Alinnor added.
Also, the state Secretary of the association, Chukwurah Onuorah, condemned the incident, describing the murder of Ugboma as the height of insecurity in the state.
Onuorah said: “A court is a place we consider as sacred, the same way we consider the Church or temple.
“A person who presides over the court is a priest and the person is there to render justice.
“Someone who was out to render justice now met with injustice because of the poor system in the country.”
