Members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Anambra State Chapter over the weekend, stormed Ekwulobia in Aguata Council Area of the state, the country home of late Mr. Mmadụabuchi Nnofu, to demand justice for the deceased.
The late Mmaduabuchi, a native of Eziagulu village in Ekwulobia, who is a visually-impaired man, aged 47, was gruesomely murdered and set ablaze by the brother, one Onyedika Nnofu, over a land issue, barely a week ago.
TNC correspondent gathered that the deceased, who is the JONAPWD Chairman in Aguata LGA, had been in disagreement with the prime suspect over a parcel of land which was allegedly given to him by their father.
Addressing the embittered members of JONAPWD who gathered at Aguata Local Government Secretariat, Ekwulobia to protest the unfortunate death of Mr Mmaduabuchi, the Chairman of JONAPWD, Anambra State, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke said the main purpose of the protest was to visit the Nnofu family and get first-hand information on the issues surrounding the deceased sudden demise and pay a visit to the traditional ruler of Ekwulobia and know his stand over the ugly incident.
He however charged his members to comport themselves in an orderly manner irrespective of their grievances.
Arriving the Nnofu compound, JONAPWD members met the deceased’s aged mother, who wailed bitterly, pointed out that it was Maduabuchi’s kindness and the quest for unity in the family that took his life.
”My son Mmadụabuchi has endured a lot from this youngest brother of his that killed him.
“Severally he has continued to insult, abuse and threaten Abuchi’s life because of this very piece of land.
“I have taken this matter to the town’s vigilante severally and even to Ekwulobia police station but the security people seem to be reluctant about the threats.
“Now look what it has resulted to,” she cried.
She also pointed accusing fingers at her late husband’s brother, one Mr Emmanuel Nnofu and his first son, whom she said, have been planning with her son to sell the piece of land.
She also pleaded with the government of Anambra State to help intervene in the speedy release of her son’s corpse so that he can be given a befitting burial.
Showing JONAPWD members round the scene of murder, Mr Amandi Nnofu who is a paternal cousin to Abuchi, said the accused murdered his brother because Abuchi and his other two brothers kicked against the accused decision to sell his only landed inheritance given to him by their late father.
“Originally the suspect’s portion of land was at the back of the compound but Abuchi out of his kind and brotherly love, agreed to give him part of his own portion in the front but barely one month after Abuchi did that, Onyedika started scheming on how to sell his land (with the inclusion of Abuchi’s added portion).
“None of our family members supported his greedy move and this necessitated an ongoing court case.
“On the 30th of January precisely, the accused (Onyedika) attacked the deceased (Abuchi) when everyone has gone to church with an axe (as suspected) and burned his corpse, especially his head beyond recognition.
“Luck ran out of him when he came back to pick up his belt (as he claimed) and he was apprehended by our vigilante and handed over to the police.
“He has since been moved down to Awka,” he stated.
Amandi maintained that the entire Nnofu family are against the suspect’s actions and wished not to ever set their eyes on him alive.
He also called on the government of Anambra State and the Nigerian police to do whatever they can to bring justice to their dead brother.
In his reactions, Comrade Okeke comforted Abuchi’s mother and the entire family of Nnofu and prayed against a recurrence of such ugly incident.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of Abuchi and called on all the relevant authorities involved in the case to bring a perpetual sentence to the accused and deserved justice to Abuchi as JONAPWD will continue to follow the case to the end.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Ekwulobia, Igwe Emmanuel Onyeneke, has condemned the alleged action of the accused, noting that such a thing has never been heard in Ekwulobia.
He said; “I stand strongly with Persons with Disabilities in their cry for justice for Mmadụabuchi Nnofu.
“I have come in close contact with the deceased severally and I always admire his drive to advocate for persons with disabilities irrespective of his own disability.
“It’s so unfortunate that I never got to hear of this case until his death.
“It was my own vigilante that apprehended the accused and handed him to the police.”
Igwe Onyeneke also noted that he is in constant communications with the Chairman of Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Barr Chuks Ezewuzie and promised that no stone will be left unturned in finding the deserved justice for Mmaduabuchi.
