By Pamela Eboh
Over a hundred youths from Umuoji community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra, on Friday, stormed the Agụ-Awka Government House to protest the delay of justice for the slain President General, late Chief Silas Onyima.
Speaking to journalists after the protest, the Youth leader, Comrade Chudi Chikelu said that the community is yet to get updates from the police authority.
They called on the state governor Prof Chukwuma Soludo to prevail on the police to expedite action on the matter.
The Chief of Staff to Governor Soludo, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi who spoke on behalf of the governor expressed sadness over the gruesome act, but assured the youths that the government in collaboration with the police will do everything humanly possible to ensure that those behind the dastardly act are persecuted accordingly.
He said, “The incident affected everyone, including the state government. The late Onyima was dutifully offering his services before he was cut off”,
“The matter is still under investigation. Those arrested are still in custody and government is committed to working with the police to ensure that justice is served.”
According to him the governor had in demonstration of empathy led a one-minute silence session in his honour, during one of the executive council meetings.E
Mr Ezeajughi further said that the state government does not want a repeat of such ugly incidents in the state, promising to convey their message to the Governor.
President Generals of Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, Barrister Titus Akpudo on his part called for calm until police conclude their investigations.
On his part, the ASATU Youth President General, Comrade Ken Okoli advised everyone to be vigilant of their immediate environment, to avoid such death.
He called on the people to make sure they know those living in their neighbourhood and emphasized that ASATU family is fully interested in seeing the matter to logical conclusion.
The protesters showed up with placards with inscriptions like, “Justice delayed is justice denied”, “Mr Governor kindly prevail on the police to expedite action, ‘the blood of Chief Silas Onyima cries for justice, ‘Umuoji youths demand justice our slain President General, injustice to one is injustice to all, amongst others.
