Ogona Anita
Tension As Gunmen Kill Prominent Lawyer And Client Immediately After Court Session has been identified as Iloakasi and his client who were ambushed by the assailants, by gunmen riding a motorcycle, as they made their way out of the court premises.
Residents of Anambra State were left in shock and grief on Thursday morning after gunmen suspected to be assassins brazenly murdered a well-known lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Iloakasi, and his client shortly after a court session. According to eyewitness accounts and official statements, the fatal attack occurred near the Nanka/Agulu boundary in Orumba North Local Government Area, shortly after Iloakasi had concluded a legal matter at High Court II in Ekwulobia.
A harrowing video circulating on social media shows shocked villagers and passersby gathered around the lawyer’s abandoned red Toyota Camry, reportedly recovered at the scene. Witnesses said the lawyer was shot at close range, and his client, who attempted to flee, was chased down and gunned down by the attackers. Advertisements “Two people were shot dead right now, between Nanka and Agulu by unknown gunmen.
They also killed his friend that was running. They zoomed off with their motorcycle,” a voice in the video narrates. The late Barrister Iloakasi was not only a respected legal practitioner but also the President General of Aguleri community in Anambra East Local Government Area. His death has sparked fears and outrage within the legal and broader civic community. Sources close to the incident revealed that Iloakasi had just secured bail for an accused person involved in a murder case—a possible motive that may have provoked the deadly ambush.
In response to the attack, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, personally led a team of senior officers to the crime scene in Egbebelu village, Nanka. In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, authorities confirmed the targeted killing and disclosed that one victim miraculously survived the attack. “The escapee has been debriefed by the police and has provided crucial information that is aiding ongoing investigations and manhunt operations,” Ikenga stated.
He further noted that the victims were likely trailed and intercepted by the assailants following the court proceedings. Both deceased individuals have been identified by their families. As the police continue their investigation, the shocking incident has reignited concerns over the rising trend of violent attacks in the region, particularly against legal practitioners and community leaders. Authorities have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward as the command intensifies efforts to apprehend the culprits. Meanwhile, residents of Anambra remain gripped by fear and uncertainty in the wake of the brutal killings.
