NIGERIA: Horror in Anambra, Enugu communities: 50 bodies found in river
Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Azuka Enemuoh, yesterday confirmed that 40 dead bodies were sighted inside Ezu River in the state. But residents of nearby communities said the corpses were above 50.
Confusion had rent Awka and Amansea, two border communities between Anambra and Enugu States, when in the early hours of the day, residents of the villages woke up to the gory sight of male corpses floating in Ezu River.
The corpses, according to witnesses, were floating and being streamed along, from the Enugu end of the river.
Sunday Mirror gathered that the Commissioner of Police in Enugu state, Musa Daura, had visited the location, which is along the Enugu- Onitsha highway.
The police boss said his command would swing into action immediately to unravel the cause of the mystery deaths
Although the victims have not been identified, sources said they were dumped at a point in the river by unknown persons on Friday.
There were suspicious that the bodies were those of persons who might have been given extra-judicial executions.
Members of the communities said the bodies were first noticed by fishermen and sand excavators at the Amansea section of the river as some of the bodies were trapped at the river bank.
When Sunday Mirror visited the Ezu River bank, many dead bodies were seen floating with their hands tied behind them, just as some wore boxers and appeared to have been burnt before they were thrown into the river.
When journalists spoke with the natives of the area, it was revealed that many of the bodies had been swept away while some are still buried down the river and could re-float later.
The traditional ruler of Amansea, Igwe Kenneth Okonkwo, described the discovery as unfortunate, saying the community had never witnessed such before.
He, however, could not say how many corpses had been seen, but confirmed that a lot of bodies had floated past. Governor Peter Obi was said to have cut short his overseas trip to enable him visit the scene.
Commissioner for Local Government in the state, Mrs. Enemuoh, who visited the scene with some government officials, said “we have seen about 40 bodies so far.” She could also not tell where the bodies came from.
The Anambra State Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the story.
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