The Anambra State government has announced a N5 million reward to any person who can provide useful information on the identity of the killers of one- time lawmaker and President General of Nimo community, Chief Frank-Anthony Igboka.
Igboka was shot dead on Tuesday night by persons suspected to be assassins at Oye Nimo market square as he drove by.
Gov. Willie Obiano, who announced the reward Wednesday morning, described Igboka’s death as a shock.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is experiencing a rising wave of insecurity, with attacks by armed gangs occurring in different parts of the country.
- Don Adinuba, Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment, who signed the press statement on behalf of the governor, said he was briefed on the murder by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mustapha Dandaura, shortly after the killing.
He said the governor had directed the Police chief in the state to “personally lead a team to apprehend the killers immediately.”
“He has, in addition, directed the Department of State Security, intelligence officers in the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy as well as the Nigerian Security and Defence Corps to join the Nigeria Police Force in the task to bring the culprits quickly,” Adinuba said.
The governor described the killing as utterly heartless, noting that Chief Frank-Anthony’s elder brother, Chief Charles Igboka, a former Nigerian diplomat in Europe, died only two weeks ago and was yet to be buried.
“It is a shame that the killing of Chief Igboka should take place in the week leading to Easter when men and women of goodwill throughout the world are reconciling themselves with God and fellow human beings,” he said.
Obiano asked the intelligence and security officers to re-enact the same level of enthusiasm and competence they exhibited in the arrest two weeks ago of Ikechukwu Udensi, whom he described as the most-wanted murder suspect in Anambra State.
“You have to display the same commitment and competence this time in tracing the killers of Chief Igboka,” the governor affirmed.
Meanwhile, the Police Command has confirmed the killing of late Igboka by unknown gunmen.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the incident in a statement in Awka, said the deceased was shot in his car near Nimo Market.
Late Igboka , who recently bagged the award of “Hero of Njikoka,” was a former member of Anambra House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003, where he represented Njikoka Constituency.
“At about 8:18pm of April 16, there were sporadic gunshots around Nimo Market in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state,” Mohammed said.
“Police patrol team attached to Nimo Division rushed to the scene and discovered one Chief Frank Anthony Igboka on the driver’s seat of his Chevrolet SUV vehicle lying unconscious in the pool of his blood. His body was riddled with bullets.”
According to him, the victim was rushed to Beke Hospital, Nimo, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor and the corpse was later deposited at the hospital morgue.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was shot at a close range by four armed men who escaped in a pickup van towards Abacha-Eziowelle road.
“Twenty-five expended 7.62 mm ammunition was recovered at the scene,” Mohammed said.
He added that CP Dandaura had visited the scene and ordered a full-scale investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident and bring perpetrators to justice.
Mohammed appealed to the public to avail the command with useful information that could help in arresting the perpetrators of the murder using a police emergency number: 07039194332.
