Written by Obinna Chiaghalam, Indigenous Abia Youths for Good Governance
The tragic killing of Hon. Igwe Akuma has cast a long and troubling shadow over Okon Aku in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. Beyond the grief of a life cut short—just days before his planned wedding—the circumstances surrounding his death raise profound questions that demand urgent, transparent, and independent investigation.
At the heart of public concern is not only how Igwe Akuma died, *but who ordered, executed, or enabled the actions that led to his death*. In a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law, no life should be lost without accountability, and no authority should be insulated from scrutiny.
*The Unanswered Questions Around the Killing*
While official statements have focused heavily on timelines and denials, the central issue remains unresolved:
*Who shot Igwe Akuma, and under whose directive?*
Establishing the chain of command—whether formal or informal—is critical to restoring public confidence and ensuring justice for the deceased and his family.
Equally disturbing are reports that while other injured persons were allegedly evacuated for medical care, Igwe Akuma was not afforded the same opportunity. Decisions taken in the immediate aftermath of a shooting often determine survival. Identifying who made those decisions, and why, is a moral and legal imperative.
*Why the Udensi Family?*
Another troubling dimension of this crisis is the repeated public reference to the Udensi family, a family widely regarded within Ohafia and Abia State as respected, law-abiding, and historically rooted in community service.
Many observers now ask: *Why is the Deputy Governor’s office persistently drawing the Udensi family into narratives surrounding the incident?*
What factual basis exists for associating a single family compound with responsibility for a violent crime, especially when no judicial determination has been made?
In moments of crisis, careless or strategic name-dragging risks stigmatizing innocent families, inflaming tensions, and diverting attention from the real perpetrators. The public deserves clarity on whether these references are evidence-based or merely convenient deflections.
The Deputy Governor’s Presence After the Shooting
Perhaps the most sensitive question remains the Deputy Governor’s arrival in Okon Aku after Igwe Akuma had already been shot.
Citizens are entitled to ask—respectfully but firmly—why such a high-ranking political figure deemed it necessary to visit the scene after the fatal incident.
*Was the visit purely administrative and peace-driven, or was it intended to personally assess events already concluded?*
In crisis governance, perception matters as much as intention. Without clear explanations, such actions risk being misinterpreted as confirmation visits rather than conflict-resolution efforts.
Transparency is therefore essential to dispel suspicion and restore trust.
Justice Beyond Statements
Press releases and counter-statements cannot substitute for forensic investigation, witness protection, and judicial oversight.
The death of Igwe Akuma is not a matter to be settled in the media space or through competing narratives—it is a matter for an independent investigative process free from political influence.
A credible investigation must answer:
1). Who fired the fatal shot?
2). Who authorized or enabled armed presence in the community?
3). Who made critical decisions after the shooting?
4).Why certain individuals or families are being publicly implicated without judicial findings?
*A Call to Conscience and Governance*
Power must never be exercised in ways that deepen grief, sow fear, or obscure truth. The people of Okon Aku, the Ohafia community, and Abians at large are not demanding sentiment—they are demanding justice, clarity, and accountability.
Hon. Igwe Akuma deserves more than sympathy. He deserves truth.
His family deserves closure.
And the state deserves institutions strong enough to investigate themselves without fear or favour.
Until these questions are answered through a transparent and independent inquiry, the wound left by Igwe Akuma’s death will remain open—and so will the doubts surrounding it.
Justice delayed, obscured, or politicised is justice denied.
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