Ogboji Town Union has confirmed that a long-standing leadership crisis among Ebonyi indigenes residing in the town may have contributed to the tragic killing of ten persons in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
In an official update released on July 2, 2025, the President General of Ogboji Town Union, Nwaedozie Ndubuisi, disclosed that prior to the incident, the Union had received petitions and complaints about internal disputes between two opposing factions of the Ebonyi community living in Ogboji.
The report revealed that the Chairman and seven members of the recognized Ebonyi Union had earlier submitted a petition to the town union, accusing a splinter group of unlawfully operating outside the recognized body, and of absconding with critical records, cash, and other valuables.
In response, the splinter group had also confirmed the existence of a leadership crisis and declared their disassociation from the parent body.
According to the statement, "Sometime in March 2025 during one of their meetings with us, the splinter group vowed not to have anything to do with the parent body again.
"On the other hand, the parent body demanded that the splinter group must come back to the fold."
Despite the Ogboji Town Union’s intervention and recommendation for reconciliation, both groups remained “diametrically opposed to each other,” with tensions persisting until the incident.
The town union, upon receiving news of the attack, said it mobilized its local security teams, youth wing, and concerned citizens to rescue victims and transport the deceased to the mortuary.
The union also took responsibility for covering medical bills for the wounded and all logistics related to the dead bodies, including hiring ambulances and a truck.
Ndubuisi commended the efforts of Ogboji stakeholders and community security groups, stating their "gallant and speedy interventions" helped prevent further escalation of the violence.
While assuring the public that relevant security agencies are actively investigating the incident, the Town Union appealed for calm, advising residents to refrain from sharing images or sensitive information outside designated town union platforms.
“No matter how long a night may be, a dawn must surely follow,” the statement concluded.
The Anambra State government and security operatives have since intensified efforts to uncover the perpetrators of the attack and restore peace in the affected area.
