Igwe Omeli, one of the leaders of the Aye cult group, was mercilessly shot dead and decapitated during a confrontation between rival cult factions striving for power in the market on Wednesday morning, July 26, 2023, in a terrible episode that shook Awka market.
Eyewitnesses claim that the violent altercation was a result of the continuing struggle for dominance over the busy market between the Baga and Aye cult groups.
Market-goers began to worry as the parties engaged in a violent struggle, and traders hastily fled for safety as the situation worsened.
According to market insiders who spoke on the record under the condition of anonymity out of security reasons, the deceased, Igwe Omeli, had a reputation for forcingfully enforcing laws and regulations, including taxes, upon the merchants.
He is accused of playing a key role in upholding the goals of the Aye cult, frequently using coercion to get what he wanted.
The sad incident started when Igwe Omeli, who had sought refuge in the market, was pursued by members of the Baga cult group while he was trying to rally his own group of followers to defend him. However, the members of the opposing cult caught up with him before his followers could answer the distress call.
In a grisly act of violence, the assailants not only shot him dead but also beheaded him and severed his manhood using butcher’s knives.
“The clash is related to market politics, but the man killed was the person they always used in terrorising us to comply with certain agendas. Any time the leaders want to enforce any agenda, he is the person and others they used,” the anonymous source stated.
“The Baga cult group members were pursuing Omeli and he ran into the market to mobilise his boys to rescue him unfortunately for him before his boys could get the information, they killed him and beheaded him and cut his male organ.
“He was killed inside the market at the abattoir area and the cult members cut his head and male organ with the butcher’s knives. Further bloodshed was averted as the members of the rival cult group had fled before the deceased group members arrive at the scene.”
The Anambra State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident, assuring the public that the police were actively investigating the matter.