Anambra: Man Kills, Burns Blind Brother Over Family Land

A man identified as Onyedika Nnofu has murdered and set his elder brother Mmaduabuchi Nnofu ablaze over the land allocated to him by their late father.

According to Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, blind Nnofu was resting at home when his younger brother attacked him before setting him ablaze inside his compound.

The association while reacting to the murder of their Chairman in Aguata LGA chapter wrote, “Nnofu aged 47, a native of Eziagulu in Ekwulobia com­munity, Aguata LGA, was allegedly murdered and set ablaze by his younger brother, Mr. Onyedika Nnofu on Sun­day, January 30, 2022.

“Sources told us that Mr. Mmaduabuchi Nnofu was at home relaxing when the sus­pect came in with weapons and killed him before setting him ablaze within the com­pound. We suspected that he was murdered over a family land which had been duly assigned to him by their late father.

“Late Mmaduabuchi Nno­fu while alive, confided in us that the land in question was willed to him by their late fa­ther, who also willed another one behind his to the prime suspect. He also told us that his brother since then had tried all he could to take over the land by force for sale.

“Hence, the prime suspect approached Aguata Cus­tomary Court, which in its wisdom, urged them to settle the issue out of court. They were still waiting to settle the case out of court only for us to hear the news that the sus­pect allegedly walked into his compound last Sunday and gruesomely murdered him.

“JONAPWD believes that this evil act was perpetrated on our member because he was blind and helpless. Mmad­uabuchi Nnofu was killed be­cause his sibling saw him as nobody or disabled especially because he was blind and un­married.

“This negates his rights as human as uphold by the United Nations Charter; Ar­ticle 15 and section 21(1b) of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018), and Sec­tions 33 and 43 of the 1999 Con­stitution of the Federal Repub­lic of Nigeria (as amended).

“Therefore, we are demand­ing for justice for late Mmadu­abuchi Nnofu. Justice is nec­essary to prevent a repeat of this man’s inhumanity to man on our members or any other person anywhere in Nigeria.

“Hence, JONAPWD Anam­bra is appealing to the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command, to (a) arrest the prime suspect (b) conduct investigation into the matter and (c) charge him and other possible conspirators to court accordingly.

“We also want the Anam­bra State Government, inter­national community, civil so­ciety organisations and other relevant bodies to kindly wade into this ugly incident to bring lasting justice to our member.”

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Echeng Eworo Echeng, disclosed that the suspect is currently in custody undergoing inter­rogations.