By ANAYO OKOLI

For Mrs. Anna Ukatta,widow of late Andrew Onwuebuibo Ukatta of Amizi in Ikwuano council of Abia State, who was murdered in cold blood in his farm on January, 10, 2013, life can never be the same again.

Life, was snuffed out of  Andrew Ukatta by yet- to- be identified persons in his farm land.  However, his  widow alleged  that his death could not be unconnected with a dispute  her late Andrew had with his kinsmen.

She told Crime Guard that her husband had survived several attempts on  his life before  his assailants eventually got him. She attributed the hatred for her husband by those she suspects,were not comfortable with  his uprightness, saying  there were occasions when her husband was allegedly cajoled  by some persons in the community to give false evidence on land issues which he refused; an action  she said did not go down well with those involved. Little wonder she is suspecting some persons in the community for her husband’s death. Specifically, the widow points accusing fingers at those she alleged  had land dispute  in the past with her husband.

*Late Andrew Ukatta, Mrs. Anna Ukatta, widow

She recalled  how in the past a native of the community she simply called Chikwe, allegedly wanted to kill her husband while he was on top of a palm tree.  She  has therefore,  called on  the police to  fish out  Chikwe  and interrogate him on what he knows about the death of her husband.

The widow has also expressed displeasure over the position of the traditional ruler of the community on the matter, accused him of being adamant.  The  traditional ruler who according to her, ought to be the chief security of the community,  had not shown interest on the issue, accusing  him of not making any attempt  to inquire what happened, considering the  manner  Ukatta was killed  and  coupled with the  fact that his death was  the first of its kind in the community. She however, expressed gratitude  to the Amizi Development Union, Lagos branch, for ensuring that her husband was given a befitting burial.

It would be recalled that  youths of the community in a petition  to the Abia State Command of Directorate of Security Service,  also complained that their traditional ruler had not shown interest or put in any  effort to unravel the killers of Andrew Ukatta, despite the  N300 levy  paid by members of the community  to pursue the matter.

The widow who is currently saddled with the responsibility of catering for eight children alone, spoke amidst tears with Crime Guard: “I am still crying everyday. My husband was a peaceful man. His only sin  was that  he never lied or cheated people.

Wherever h e was called to testify, especially on land and other issues in this community, he had always said the truth as he knew it and attempts were made to force him to lie, he  rejected such moves and this never went down  well by those involved. Please, I urge the police to be serious with their investigation”.

Attempt by Crime Guard to speak with the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Eugene Ndimele, on efforts made by his cabinet to aid  investigation and also measures put on ground to avoid  a repeat of such gruesome murder, proved abortive as the royal father was not willing to give this writer audience. He stated emphatically that he would not speak because he was angry.

According to him, “Vanguard has already written rubbish about me in its report after the burial of the slain man”

However after much persuasion, he scheduled an appointment in Aba, where he resides and later to the village, on a day he had a meeting with his cabinet. But when this reporter called him to confirm the appointment before proceeding to see him in the village, he (Eze Ndimele) cancealed  the appointment. He simply stated that it was not necessary, adding that the incident had been overtaken by events .

However, sources at the  Abia State Police Command  said investigation into the murder was still ongoing and urged the community  to be patient and also avail the command with  useful information that could lead to the arrest of the killers.

Spokesman for the command,  Geoffrey Ogbonna, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP,  informed that the  command was  still searching for a man believed to be the prime suspect. He added that some arrests were made earlier but that at the end of interrogation, the suspects were released, following discovery that they were arrested on mere suspicion…

”Those people were just arrested on mere suspicion because they had quarrel previously with the murdered man.