THE GRUESOME MURDER OF MR. AWA PETER AWA, ESQ IS ONE MURDER TOO MANY!! – AFAM OSIGWE SAN

I am dismayed by the shocking news of the brutal murder of Awa Peter Awa, Esq., the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ihiala Branch. Until his gruesome and tragic death he was the Director of Public Prosecution, Anambra State. This dastardly act, is a grave assault on the legal profession and the society at large. It offends our sensibilities. Such actions must be stopped. This is indeed, one killing to many.

Awa Peter Awa was a dedicated legal practitioner who tirelessly served as the Secretary of his community’s town union. He always served with integrity and commitment. His senseless killing is not just a personal loss to his family and colleagues, but also a significant blow to the entire legal profession and the society that he devoted his life to serving. Nobody deserved to be killed the way he was killed.

I vehemently condemn this heinous act and call on the relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned in their quest to bring the perpetrators to justice. The state must show its commitment to eradicating all forms of violence and criminalities which have gradually made some parts of Anambra State lawless and dangerous to live in. Those behind such acts must be shown that the state will not take all steps to ensure that such actions have no place in our country. Enough is enough.

This is a critical moment for law enforcement agencies to demonstrate their commitment to the safety and security of all citizens. Citizens increasingly face significant risks and threats due to their lives. Living in some communities have become very dangerous. Some criminal elements have enthroned lawlessness thereby making life difficult. The state must not only bare its fangs but stamp out these criminal elements from our midst. We must be able to live in any society with the assurance that our security and welfare are guaranteed.

I demand a swift and thorough investigation into this despicable act. We urge the Anambra State Police Command and other relevant security agencies to expedite their efforts in apprehending the culprits and ensuring they face the full weight of the law. Justice must be served, not only to honor the memory of Awa Peter Awa but also to send a strong message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated.

I also call on the government to enhance security measures to protect citizens . Lawyers as well as other persons are increasingly becoming very vulnerable in the face of seeming unrelenting violent attacks, kidnappings and other forms of criminalities. Ensuring the safety of citizens especially who work for peace and order in our society should be paramount to maintaining the rule of law and public confidence in our judicial system.

In this time of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of Awa Peter Awa, his friends, and his colleagues in the NBA Ihiala Branch. I stand in solidarity with them and offer our deepest condolences. The legacy of Awa Peter Awa’s dedication to justice will forever remain in our hearts and inspire us to continue the fight for a just and equitable society.

Rest in Peace, Awa Peter Awa, Esq.

Afam Osigwe, SAN