Man kills blind sibling over family land dispute in Anambra

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Middle-aged man, identified as Mr Onyedika Nnofu from Eziagulu village in Ekwulobia community in Anambra State has allegedly killed his older brother, Mmaduabuchi Nnofu, who is visually impaired over land dispute.

Mr Nnofu, aged 47, was said to have stormed his deceased brother’s home on Monday January, 30,2022, and allegedly murdered him over a family land said to be duly allocated to his elder by their late father.

He also set the deceased body ablaze within the compound.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command said the suspect had been arrested and currently undergoing interrogations.

Following the development, persons living with disabilities in Anambra State under the aegis of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), have raised alarm over the alleged gruesome murder of one of their members.

A statement by the group jointly signed by the state Chairman comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, the Public Relations Officer, comrade Ifeanyi Igwegbe and the association’s legal adviser Barr. Peter Muoneke, demanded for justice for late Mmaduabuchi Nnofu, adding that justice was necessary to prevent a repeat of such man’s inhumanity to man.

The statement reads; “The attention of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), Anambra State chapter has been drawn to the gruesome murder of our Chairman in Aguata LGA chapter, Mr Mmaduabuchi Nnofu, a visually impaired.

“Nnofu aged 47, a native of Eziagulu in Ekwulobia community, Aguata LGA, was allegedly murdered and set ablaze by his younger brother, Mr Onyedika Nnofu on Sunday, January 30, 2022.

“Our sources told us that Mr. Mmaduabuchi Nnofu was at home relaxing when the suspect came in with weapons and killed him before setting him ablaze within the compound. We suspected that he was murdered over a family land which had been duly assigned to him by their late father.

“Late Mmaduabuchi Nnofu  while alive, confided in us that the land in question was willed to him by their late father, who also willed another one behind his to the prime suspect. He also told us that his brother since then had tried all he could to take over the land by force for sale.

“Hence, the prime suspect approached Aguata Customary Court, which in its wisdom, urged them to settle the issue out of court. They were still waiting to settle the case out of court only for us to hear the news that the suspect allegedly walked into his compound last Sunday and gruesomely murdered him.

“JONAPWD believes that this evil act was pepetrated on our member because he was blind and helpless. Mmaduabuchi Nnofu was killed because his sibling saw him as nobody or disabled especially because he was blind and unmarried.

“This negates his rights as human as uphold by the United Nations Charter; Article 15 and section 21(1b) of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018), and  Sections 33 and 43 of the 1999  Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“Therefore, we are demanding for justice for late Mmaduabuchi Nnofu. Justice is necessary to prevent a repeat of this man’s inhumanity to man on our members or any other person anywhere in Nigeria.

“Hence, JONAPWD Anambra is appealing to the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command to (a) arrest the prime suspect (b) conduct investigation into the matter and (c) charge him and other possible conspirators to court accordingly.

“We also want the Anambra State Government, international community, civil society organisations and other relevant bodies to kindly wade into this ugly incident to bring lasting justice to our member.”