Soludo Approves N15m For Mass Burial Of Crisis Victims
The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has approved N15million in support for the mass burial of about 43 persons who lost their lives during a communal crisis that occurred in Ogwuaniocha community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state in 2021.
Recall that the crisis was reportedly triggered by the discovery of oil in that community where different factions emerged and started clashing over who controls the proceeds from the oil.
The tension was also heightened when the traditional ruler of the community, Oliver Nnaji, was reportedly kidnapped in November 2021 and his whereabouts have remained unknown till date.
The state Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Anthony Ifeanya, presented the cheque to the President-General of Ogwuaniocha Progressives Association, Vitalis Ekweanua, on behalf of the governor, on Saturday.
Presenting the cheque in the presence of some elders and other stakeholders of the community in his office, in Awka, the commissioner commended the community for doing the needful by ending the crisis and paving the way for peace to thrive.
Ifeanya, while disclosing the state government’s plan for the community, said, “The governor is willing to visit the community with developmental projects, the state government has vowed that Ogwuaniocha must get everything that is due to it as the host community under our watch”.
Receiving the cheque, the President-General of the community, Vitalis Ekweanua, disclosed that in their quest to achieve all the activities mapped out to restore lasting peace, they sourced funds and held the mass burial for the 43 deceased persons on April 20, 2025 and greatly appreciated Governor Soludo for his gesture.
Ekweanua, however, lamented that despite the state government’s effort in restoring peace, the community still remain under deserted atmosphere.
He said, “The N15 million support is a welcome development, but the community is asking for more government presence in infrastructural development, etc. Ogwuaniocha community is completely diserted.
“Nothing good is happening there. Our children no longer go to school because the entire schools in the community (primary and secondary schools were all destroyed due to the communal crisis.
“As I speak to you, about 90 per cent houses, including my house as the President General of the town were also destroyed beyond repair.
“Our healthcare facilities are also affected. Nothing good is happening there. We are currently helpless. We seriously need our solution governor to urgently intervene.
“The company drilling oil in our community is also our major challenge, ever since they commenced oil operations in the area, we stopped farming and fishing due to the oil spillige and no compensation has been given to us.
“For the past three years, we have been living in fears, pain and hunger as a result of the crisis. Our kidnapped traditional ruler has remain missing since the crisis broke out in November 2021 under the immediate past administration of Willie Obiano.
“We are appealing to governor Soludo to extend more of his kind-hearted agenda for Ndi-Anambra to our community by reconstructing the affected facilities and also build us a bridge at Ulasi River that would link Umunankwo to Ihiala Local Government Area of the state. And with this I believe, the community would regain back her lost glory.
“Soludo, been a God-sent governor to Anambra, we will support him with 100/100 votes to ensure that he emerges victorious in the November 8, 2025 governorship election in the state.”
The cheque presentation ceremony was also attended by the representative of the kidnapped traditional ruler, Oliver Nnaji, Owelle Nnaji, Ogwuaniocha community Women Leader, Mrs Appolonia Ezenwa and the Youth President of the town, Uchenna Onyedi.