Mr. Livingstone Wechie
By Maureen Dick
THE Future Nigeria Movement (FNM) has condemned the barbaric and gruesome killing of 13 individuals in Ogboji, Orumba South Local Government Area, in Anambra State on Monday, June 30, 2025.
Leader of the Movement, Livingstone Wechie, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, said it is disturbing that such coordinated and unreported killings are portraying South-East negatively.
Wechie expressed concerns about impact of the killings on the businesses and economy of Anambra, a state economically important to Nigeria.
The leader of the group frowned at the barbaric killings, emphasizing that every Nigerian has right to live in any part of the country he or she chooses, and, therefore, should not be threatened by anyone or group of persons.
He expressed: “It is worrisome that records of coordinated and unreported killings in the South-East is painting the zone in a bad light with justice in limbo. In October of 2024 or so, there was the Nibo killings of no less than 13 persons for no reason in Anambra. It is our view that every Nigerian should be safe and feel so to reside in any part of the country without any fear.
“FNM suggests that these killings which have taken the lives of many prominent sons and daughters of the state and the zone in various sectors is denigrating the potency and prospects of the area.
“It is common knowledge that Anambra State is the economic stronghold of the South-East that serves as a feeder to its neighbours and beyond, making an agitation on the business hub an attack on the livelihood of the area in general. Thus, the economic credentials of Anambra have made it an easy target for insecurity and this is not good for the nation in general.”
Speaking further, Wechie said the recurring killings in the region should as a matter of urgency, be wholistically addressed by government to reassure citizens and residents of safety of their lives and property.
He continued: “It is the view of FNM that the continuous killings in the South-Eastern states should be treated with an intentional urgency, so as to reassure the residents and dwellers in the area of their safety.
“There must be an urgent return to the drawing board by all critical stakeholders in the zone from all backgrounds to put up an actionable plan to bring this menace under total control. FNM maintains that Anambrarians as well the entire South-East states should rise against these suspected homegrown extremists who may be drawing support from yet-to-be-identified external and internal sources that end up undermining the efforts of government and relevant security agencies.”
The group suggested community engagement to contain the perpetrators of the heinous acts and charged governors of the South-East states to brace up and contain the surging killings.
Wechie stated: “FNM recommends that community efforts must be explored to address this existential threat that has put the lives of the people at the mercy of enemy forces.
“The governments at all levels must genuinely collaborate with those directly affected to implement the various recommended solutions to this problem. There appears to be some internal elements who have turned the situation into a lifetime industry to endanger the lives of the people with delight.
“Government at all levels must come out openly and go after these enemies of our society with a view to bring them to justice.
“It is the considered opinion of FNM that the South-East governors should further evince the deliberate commitment needed to address this crisis that has put the future of the zone at high risk.
“We acknowledge that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has invested so much to bring security to Anambra State just like his other counterparts in the zone. However, there a suspicion that a window is still open that gives a leverage to these killers to undermine all efforts and same must now be tackled from all cylinders.”