…brother of the groom also killed
Juliana Francis
A couple, identified as Ifechukwu Martin Ekemezie and his soon-to-be wife, Ifeoma Gloria Mba, has been killed six days before their wedding in Imo State.
The incident has elicited shock and outrage among Nigerians, leading to another social media discussion on the escalating insecurity in the eastern parts of the country.
About three weeks ago, Lieutenant PP Johnson, a female soldier was kidnapped in the same Imo State by a group alleged to be Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB). Johnson, a newly commissioner soldier, was abducted while visiting her grandmother in Aku-Okigwe in Imo State, Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu had stated.
The families of the couple, Monday Mba aka Dankano of Umuogbuefi Ebeneb Awkernorth and Chief Vosma Ekemezie aka Eze-Ikone 1 of Arondizougu Ideato north, both in Imo State have been plunged into mourning following the murder of their son and daughter.
According to the wedding invitation sighted by our reporter, the wedding was scheduled to hold on the 18th of January 2023 at the compound of Monday Mba. In fact, guests were urged to wear clothes with white, sky blue and gold.
The couple’s killing was shared on Facebook by Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a none for profit organisation.
The group stated: “They were supposed to wed on January 18 but Martin and Gloria were killed last night at Arondizuogu in the Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State by unknown gunmen while driving home. He’s from Ndiejezie. The brother of the groom who was driving them was not spared. He was also murdered.
The post has naturally elicited despair and anger from some Nigerians.
One of them, Ojo Ade, said: “This is sad, barbaric, and unholy. Why can’t these people- unknown gunmen- realise that killing innocent souls will compound issues and bring more woe to the suffering people? The government that created this menace should be made to account for it and not innocent citizens. May Almighty God comfort the concerned family for the loss.”
Dinma E-bae noted: “I feel so sad. This is so close to my hometown. I wonder if things will ever change. It’s like we have just tumbled into this huge dark hole as a people and can’t come out of it, try as we may.”
David O. Anyaele mourned: “This is a tragedy too many. What have we done in Igbo land? Very unfortunate.”
