Gunmen have killed the Secretary General of Okija Progressive Union, Barrister Peter Awa and one Izuchukwu Igwenagha, in the Okija community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

The incident occurred around 9pm on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Barrister Awa, until his murder, was the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ihiala Branch and also the Director of Public Prosecution, Anambra State.

A yet-to-be-identified businessman was also kidnapped by the gunmen at Nkwo Okija while he was driving home from a function.

Awa, who was also the Chancellor of the Knights of St Mulumba, Okija Sub Council, was killed in a market square in his Umudioka village, while Izuchukwu Igwenagha, popularly known in the area as Onwa, was murdered in his Isieke village.

According to the Nation, before the invasion of gunmen in Okija on Sunday, the community was the most secure in Anambra because of its security architecture. 

It was also gathered that neighbouring communities were coming to conduct burials and weddings in the town because of the security in place.

The Okija Secretary was elected in 2023 during  a town union election conducted by the Anambra Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters

It was further learnt that there was an attempt to kidnap his wife, also a lawyer, at Ihiala, which failed. 

It was learnt that the lawyer attended a village meeting a few hours before his murder

A senior police officer in the state confirmed the incident to the publication on Monday.

The source, who did not want to be mentioned, told The Nation that security operatives had already been deployed in the area.