Late Onyedikachukwu Ede
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into the brutal killing of a young man, Onyedikachukwu Ede, in the Obeagu Awkunanaw community of Enugu South Local Government Area, Enugu State.
DAILY GAZETTE gathered that tensions escalated on Friday over the disputed Centenary City land in Obeagu, just days after officials from the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) visited the area and marked several buildings and structures for demolition.
It will be recalled that the Enugu State House of Assembly had previously intervened in the crisis, passing a unanimous resolution calling for a peaceful settlement, a proposal reportedly accepted by the Obeagu community but yet to be implemented.
Despite several pending court cases over the disputed land, reports of harassment, intimidation, and violence against members of the community have continued unabated.
The victim, Onyedikachukwu Ede, a native of Ndinwuba village, was reportedly stabbed in the abdomen and died before receiving medical attention.
Eyewitnesses claim that the attackers, allegedly backed by armed security personnel, stormed the site without provocation and attacked unarmed residents working on a communal project.
The broad daylight attack has sparked outrage across Enugu State, leaving many residents fearful and calling for justice.
In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Saturday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned the killing as “barbaric, inhuman, and a direct assault on the sanctity of life.”
“This killing is not only a grievous crime but a chilling reminder of how insecurity and impunity can thrive when institutions fail to act,” Onwubiko said.
“That this happened in the open, with witnesses present, and without immediate arrests is deeply troubling.”
HURIWA called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately launch a full-scale investigation to identify those responsible, expose the circumstances surrounding the attack, and ensure that the perpetrators face justice.
The rights group also urged the Enugu State Government to proactively address the root causes of the conflict, particularly land disputes, which have fueled tensions and unrest across the state.
“We cannot continue to watch communities descend into chaos over land disagreements. The government must prioritize peaceful resolution through legal and lawful means, not through violence,” the group emphasized.
While extending condolences to the bereaved family and the entire Obeagu Awkunanaw community, HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victims of human rights abuses and insisted that this case must not be swept under the rug.
“No individual or group should be above the law,” Onwubiko added.
“This killing must not go unanswered. Anything less than justice sends the wrong message to both victims and perpetrators.”
