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.
A statement signed by Obinna Chiaghalam for Indigenous Abia Youths for Good Governance, the group observes that 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*
The group observes that while official statements focus heavily on timelines and denials, the central issue remains unresolved:
It states that who shot Igwe Akuma, and on whose directive, should be core questions, saying establishing the chain of command—whether formal or informal—is critical to restoring public confidence and ensuring justice for the deceased and his family.
It adds that it is equally disturbing 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.
The statement further wonders why the Udensi family has been in the spotlight, stating that another troubling dimension to 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.
Also, Indigenous Abia Youths for Good Governance wonders why the Deputy Governor’s office is persistently drawing the Udensi family into narratives surrounding the incident. It inquired what factual basis exists for associating a single family compound with responsibility of a violent crime, especially when no judicial determination has been made.
It highlights that in moments of crisis, careless or strategic name-dragging risks stigmatizing innocent families, inflaming tensions, and diverting attention from the real perpetrators should be avoided, emphasising that the public deserves clarity on whether these references are evidence-based or merely convenient deflections.
Indigenous Abia Youths for Good Governance further questions the Deputy Governor’s presence after the shooting, saying the most sensitive question remains the Deputy Governor’s arrival in Okon Aku after Igwe Akuma had already been shot.
Furthermore, the group noted that citizens are entitled to ask, respectfully but firmly, stressing that such a high-ranking political figure deemed it necessary to visit the scene after the fatal incident.
Indigenous Abia Youths for Good Governance asks if the visit of the Deputy Governor was purely administrative and peace-driven, or intended to personally assess events already concluded?
It further noted that 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.
The group also points out that transparency is therefore essential to dispel suspicion and restore trust, adding that press releases and counter-statements cannot substitute for forensic investigation, witness protection, and judicial oversight.
It states that 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.
The Indigenous Abia Youths for Good Governance, however, states that a credible investigation must answer the following questions: Who fired the fatal shot?, Who authorized or enabled armed presence in the community?, Who made critical decisions after the shooting?, Why are certain individuals and families being publicly implicated without judicial findings?
The group also says 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.
It added that Hon. Igwe Akuma deserves more than sympathy. He deserves truth.
His family deserves closure, stressing that the state deserves institutions strong enough to investigate themselves without fear or favour.
The Indigenous Abia Youths for Good Governance maintain that 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.
It concludes by saying that justice delayed, obscured, or politicised is justice denied.
