Osita, 49, who sells and distributes all kinds of drinks within the neighbourhood, was gruesomely assassinated on April 1, 2025, in front of his shop, about eight electric poles away from his residence, in the same Umuiba Nduno-Obuoffia.
It is a grieving and difficult moment for the family of Chief Michael Ugwu of Umuiba Nduno-Obuoffia, an autonomous community in Awkunanaw, Nkanu West local government area of Enugu State, following the assassination of their son and President General (PG) of the community, Mr Osita Ugwu, by yet-to-be identified gunmen.
Osita, 49, who sells and distributes all kinds of drinks within the neighbourhood, was gruesomely assassinated on April 1, 2025, in front of his shop, about eight electric poles away from his residence, in the same Umuiba Nduno-Obuoffia.
When SaharaReporters visited his residence on Tuesday, April 8, people still trooped in to condole with the family. His elderly, sick father and his wife, with two kids—12 and eight years old, respectively—were met in mourning mood seated in front of their house, where they received their guests.
Osita’s wife, Mrs. Ebere Ugwu, described her husband as a caring and loving father who was always willing to sacrifice everything for the comfort and security of his family, she said while speaking to SaharaReporters crew members.
She expressed her shock and grief over his brutal murder, questioning why anyone would kill him when he was not a troublemaker and had refused to contest the position of president-general again.
Ebere expressed deep concern about how she would manage to raise the two children he left behind, given the harsh economic conditions that have pushed many into poverty.
“I beg the government of Enugu State and security agencies – police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other intelligence agencies to come to our aid and fish out all those involved in the killing of my husband.
“My husband was not a troublemaker. He was a man of the people, which was why the entire community elected him to be their president general. He was not vying for or re-contesting the position despite the constitution allowing him to go for a second term. He refused to present himself for the position again. Why would anyone kill him?” She questioned.
She recounted that on the Friday before last, she had a trance in which she saw her eldest son, who was in school at the time, with a bleeding face. However, they prayed and fasted, seeking divine intervention to avert the calamity.
“I called my son in school after the dream, but he told me that he was fine. I know that they just used my son’s face to show me the calamity. I equally informed my late husband about the dream, and we fasted together. I didn’t know it was my husband’s murder that I was shown,” she revealed.
Mrs. Ugwu recounted the events leading to her husband’s death, explaining that he had woken up early to buy palm wine and returned to his shop around 8 a.m.
She mentioned that she had asked him to take her to her shop, but before he could finish locking up, she decided to take an Okada ride and followed the rider instead.
Shortly afterwards, she received a call from a relative informing her that her husband was dead. Rushing back to his shop, she found his body lying in the gutter.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the attackers arrived in a red Toyota Camry without a plate number. They pretended to want to buy drinks before opening fire on Osita.
She said, “My husband usually woke up around 5:30 a.m. every morning. He usually woke up early to go to various communities to buy the palm wine we sold. On that fateful day, he woke up around 6 a.m. He didn’t tell me where he was going, but when I came out, we didn’t see his motorcycle. I felt he had gone to purchase palm wine.
“Around 8 a.m., I called him and he had returned to his shop. I asked him to come and take me to my own shop, which is not too far from his shop because there weren’t commercial transporters available. He agreed to come. But before he could finish locking up his shop, I got one Okada rider. I also called him back to say that I had gotten an Okada. Should I follow it or wait for him? He asked me to follow the Okada man.
“Unfortunately, not quite long after I got to my shop, I received a call from a relation that my husband was dead. I couldn’t comprehend it. I ran to a family relation and told him about the call. The person repeated it. Immediately, I rushed to his shop, and on getting there, behold, my husband’s body was lying in the gutter, already dead.
“Upon enquiry, his servant and other witnesses told me that his assailants came in a red Toyota Camry without a number plate. I was told that he received a call from one of the killers who pretended that he wanted to buy drinks. The hoodlums who drove in a tinted vehicle passed his shop when they were calling him, to know the exact person.”
“Then they went down the road, turned back and on approaching his shop, my husband was sitting in front of the shop. Immediately they opened fire on him, ensuring that he was dead before they zoomed off,” she narrated in tears. “That’s how they killed my husband.”
The family pleads with the government and security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Michael Ugwu, Osita’s father, who is currently receiving treatment for health issues in Edo State, has also called for justice for his deceased son.
SaharaReporters has learned that this tragic event is not isolated in the region. In June 2024, a Neighbourhood Watch operative, Ifeanyi Kingsley Arum, also known as ‘Togo Nwaoma,’ was assassinated while on duty. His killers are yet to be apprehended.
Both incidents have been reported to the police and are under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). However, the state government and police have remained silent on these matters.