Bianca Ojukwu, the renowned wife of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, has recently brought to light the existence of a mass grave in Anambra State. In a statement published on her official Facebook page on Tuesday, Ojukwu titled the disclosure, ‘A mass grave site discovered in Anambra sealed off for forensic investigation.’
While the precise location of the grave site was not disclosed by the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, she emphasized that the revelation of the mass grave came to the attention of the Commission of Inquiry through compelling testimonies.
According to Ojukwu, the disturbing discovery was brought to light by witnesses who appeared before the Anambra Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission. These witnesses testified that a staggering number of 322 individuals were verified as having been killed or deceased as a direct result of the rampant violence that had plagued the region.
It is noteworthy that the Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission were established by the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, back in June 2022.
The commission was tasked with delving into the root causes of the violent agitations and unrest that have persistently gripped not only Anambra State but the entire South East region of Nigeria.
“We are living in alarming and anxiety-inducing times, but we prayed to God to heal our land.
”The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission has concluded its second phase of public hearing.
Our Commission, headed by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu interrogated a total of 39 witnesses who testified on oath while 243 exhibits were collected during the course of the proceedings,” Ojukwu stated.
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She added
“The commission also met with 31 petitioners, including 11 organisations, 19 communities and one individual during the marathon sittings which lasted from October 26 to November 3, 2023.
“Some 322 persons were verified as killed or dead as a result of violence as testified by the witnesses while so many are still missing or their fate not yet verified.
“18 persons have been categorically identified as missing or disappeared. In the course of the proceedings, the gruesome discovery of a mass grave site was brought by testimonies, to the attention of the commission.
“Chairman of the commission Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, mandated that the suspected mass grave site be sealed for forensic investigation by pathologists. This will help in unraveling who the victims were and the circumstances of their deaths.
“The TJP commission had earlier held the first phase of its public hearing between June and July this year in the course of which we considered 24 petitions and met with 48 witnesses who testified on oath from 14 communities of the state within a 10-day hearing.”
Continuing, Ojukwu noted,
“A Bureau of Missing Persons as recommended by this commission has already been established in the state to document the missing and the circumstances of their disappearance.”
In response to inquiries about whether the state government had knowledge of the matter, Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the Governor, indicated that no formal report had been submitted on the issue.
Aburime said,
“She is probably talking about the activities of the Truth and Justice Commission set up by Governor Soludo, under the Chairmanship of Prof. Odinkalu, of which, she is the secretary. I cannot speak on this until a formal report is presented to the state government.”
