The police command in Anambra says the recent killing of 10 persons in Ogboji, Orumba-South LGA, was not targeted at Ebonyi indigenes.

The command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Ikenga said police commissioner Ikioye Orutugu established this when he led a joint security investigative team to the scene of the crime on Wednesday.

The team comprised the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies.

“The incident is not a targeted attack on indigenes of any state but a cowardly action of the common enemies of the state,” Mr Orutugu said.

He stated that the police chief confirmed the arrest of a male suspect, Sunday Mbanu, in connection with the incident, who is currently assisting the police in their investigation.

According to the statement, during an interaction with some community stakeholders, including the traditional prime minister, president-general of the Ogboji community, and the son of the landlord where the meeting was held, some revelations were made.

“There is a leadership squabble in the Association of Ebonyi State indigenes in the area. The meeting that recorded the incident is the factional leadership of Ebonyi indigenes living in Ogboji, Orumba-South LGA of Anambra state.

“It was alleged that the association had earlier complained and written a petition to the PG of Ogboji without recourse to the security agencies,” the police explained.

Mr Ikenga said that as the president-general was trying to use an alternative dispute resolution strategy to resolve the issue, it escalated to a record of the unfortunate incident.

The son of the landlord confirmed that one of the victims was a tenant in their compound and gave some details that the joint investigative team was working on.

(NAN)