Anambra State’s former lawmaker has been beheaded by gunmen. Nelson Achukwu, a resident of Anambra’s Nnewi South Local Government Area, was purportedly kidnapped a few months ago by masked individuals who claimed he had given information to military authorities.
But when his kidnappers realized he was innocent of the charge, they let him go. Physically disabled Achukwu was kidnapped once more three weeks ago from his home in the Mkpor neighborhood.
He was executed by beheading after his family allegedly paid the gunmen a ransom of N15 million.
On Wednesday, Tochukwu Ikenga, the Anambra State police spokesperson, verified the event.
According to him, the former lawmaker’s body was discovered on Tuesday in the council area between the Uke and Ukpor towns’ borders.
“His decapitated body was found at the back of Ulasi Rivers and was quickly buried by the family on Tuesday evening as the body was already decomposing.
“Efforts were being made to rescue him (from his abductors) before this unfortunate development,” Ikenga said.
The police spokesperson said the police would not relent in investigating the incident, and assured that the suspects would be tracked down.
Achukwu was the owner of Nelly Oil and Gas Filling Station in Utuh, another community in the council area.
He represented Nnewi South 2 Constituency in the state assembly during the administration of former governor, Chris Ngige, now Minister of Labour and Employment.
The latest attack came exactly one month after gunmen abducted and then beheaded Okechukwu Okoye, a lawmaker representing Aguata 2 Constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly.
Okoye was killed on May 21 with his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, six days after they were abducted along Aguluzigbo Road, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
One month ago, a serving member of the state assembly, Okechukwu Okoye, was also abducted and beheaded.
A military officer and his female partner were also decapitated recently.
There has been a series of gruesome murders in the south-east as the country prepared for elections.
Some officials have blamed the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), but it has always denied carrying out violent attacks.
-BBC
