The Anambra state Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one suspect in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.
This is even as the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, on Wednesday, led a joint security team comprising the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other sister agencies to the scene of the incident.
The Ogboji community was thrown into panic late on Monday when some assailants stormed the area in two Sport Utility Vehicles, invaded a gathering of people and opened fire on them, killing no fewer than 10 people, even as they shot indiscriminately into the air.
Ikenga said the arrested suspect, one Sunday Mbanu, is currently assisting the police in their investigation.
The CP, in an interaction with some stakeholders of the community, including the traditional Prime Minister, President General of the Ogboji Community and the son of the landlord in whose house the meeting was held (the crime scene), reiterated that the incident is not a targeted attack on any indigene of any state, but a cowardly action of the common enemies of the state.
It was revealed during the interaction that there is a leadership squabble in the Association of Ebonyi State indigenes in the area.
The meeting that recorded the incident is the factional leadership of Ebonyi indigenes living in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was alleged that the association had earlier complained and written a petition to the President General of Ogboji without recourse to the security agencies. However, as the PG was trying to use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategy to resolve the issue, it escalated to a record of the unfortunate incident.
According to Ikenga, the son of the landlord confirmed that one of the victims is a tenant in their compound and disclosed some relevant details that the joint investigative team is working on.
The joint security team, while condoling with the people of Ebonyi State, especially the family and friends of the deceased, wished the injured a quick recovery.
The Command vowed to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.
