There seem to be tension in Anambra as a man named Tagbo Okoye, 53, was allegedly murdered on his farm in Omor Community, Ayamelum Local Government Area, Anambra State. Okoye was believed to have been killed by two suspected young men from Anaku, a nearby hamlet, for purported sacrifice to a deity known as ‘Ekwensu’ in the community.
The deceased’s cousin brother, Mr. Johnson Ifejika, told The Daily Sun that his killers hacked off his head, penis, heart, ankle, and hands before burying him in a shallow grave.
According to him, “my brother who was a widower was declared missing on January 10, 2022 after he went to farm to harvest cassava at about 8am and did not return. The matter was reported to the police and we organized a search party who moved to the farm in search of him till night we returned home to no avail.
“We continued the search with the security agents till yesterday when we saw a shallow grave and his corpse was exhumed with his vital organs missing. It was an indication that he was killed for Anaku deity sacrifice which is done every year.
“We learnt that the two names of alleged killers have been given to police by the community leaders but they are yet to be arrested” Ifejika stated.
Mr. Benjamin Anyavulu Onyeabor, Chairman of Ayamelum LGA, confirmed the occurrence and stated that he attempted to calm the situation by holding back the Omor youths for retaliation.
He claimed that he was notified of the missing man by phone at 12 a.m. two days ago, and that he was later exhumed from the grave where he was buried by the killers from Anaku, who he claimed had been identified.
“I want to say that the DPO in Anaku division has failed in his duty and should be sacked or removed from the area. Since yesterday the names of the killers were submitted to the DPO he refused to arrest them and prosecute them according to the law.
“There is calmness in the area as security operatives comprising police, army and DSS have been stationed in the area to maintain law and order.”
The corpse has been exhumed and put at the mortuary for autopsy, according to Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Tochukwu Ikenga, who verified the occurrence. He stated that the cause of the man’s death had not been determined and that an inquiry was underway to determine the true cause of his death.
“Yes, our Divisonal Police station in Anaku discovered a corpse of a man in farm at Omor. For now we cannot ascertain the cause of the his death but his corpse has been deposited at morgue for onward autopsy. We are calling on the people of the community to volunteer information that will be helpful to the police in the cause of our investigation.
“The place is calm as police command has drafted some policemen to the area to maintain law and order” Ikenga stated.
Ekwensu is a deity of war in Igbo nation, according to study.
Ekwensu can only be found at Anaku which is located in Anambra’s Ayemelum local government area.
In Igbo land, they have Ekwensu Anaku and no other deities with similar names and warlike abilities. Ekwensu Anaku is known for nothing but war.
Though there are many other deities who represent war, such as those found in other Igbo towns and neighborhoods, none have the same power as Ekwensu Anaku.
In May of last year, four young men from the Omor tribe were reportedly kidnapped and allegedly slaughtered for Anaku Deity sacrifice (Ekwensu) in the Anaku community.
Source: The Sun News.
