Gunmen Massacre Ebonyi Indigenes at Anambra Community Meeting—At Least 10 Dead

Gunmen in two SUVs stormed a monthly town union meeting of Ebonyi State indigenes in Ogboji, Orumba South LGA, Anambra, on Monday, June 30, 2025, opening fire and killing at least ten people, according to police. Community members, however, claim 13 were shot dead during the tragic assault.

Local leader Chigozie Nweke, President of the Association of Non‑Indigenes in Anambra, condemned the killings as a “tragic and horrifying evening” targeting non-indigenes, mostly from Ebonyi’s Izzi, Ikwo, Mgbo and other communities. He appealed to Anambra Governor Soludo and the police commissioner to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and prevent reprisal.

A survivor, Augustine Odom, chairman of the Ebonyi community, described how the assailants arrived around 6:30 p.m., demanded their minutes book, then ordered everyone to lie down before opening fire. “About 13 of our members were killed on the spot. The treasurer and I survived with wounds,” he said.

Police spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed ten fatalities, with bodies deposited in the morgue and investigations ongoing to identify the gunmen and their motive. He stated that the command has cordoned off Ogboji and deployed security operatives to painstakingly gather intelligence and leads.

Anambra State police have taken firm action, vowing “to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice”. However, the discrepancy in reported death toll—10 versus 13—has stirred tension, prompting Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru to urge calm and a thorough probe to prevent retaliation.

Eyewitnesses suggest possible motives include internal disputes over union leadership or a resurgence of “sit-at-home” enforcement. Videos circulating on social media depict bodies strewn across the venue as distraught residents wail and scramble for safety.

As the families mourn and survivors receive treatment, Anambra’s government faces mounting pressure to restore security, stem rising communal anxieties, and ensure justice for the bereaved—particularly non-indigenous residents whose presence in Ogboji was meant to foster unity.