Wife of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Secretary of the Anambra State Truth, Justice and Peace Commission, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has alleged the uncovering of mass grave containing 322 persons in Anambra State.
Bianca stated in a statement she posted on her verified Facebook page on Tuesday titled: ‘A mass grave site discovered in Anambra sealed off for forensic investigation.’
Although, Bianca, former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, did not specify the exact location of the mass grave, she disclosed that the discovery came through testimonies of people who appeared before the Anambra State Truth, Justice and Peace Commission.
She added that about 322 persons were verified as killed or dead as a result of violence as testified to by the witnesses who appeared before the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission.
The Anambra State Truth, Justice and Peace Commission was constituted by the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, in June 2022 to inquire into the violent agitations and restiveness in the State and the South-East geo-political zone.
According to Bianca: “We are living in alarming and anxiety inducing times, but we prayed 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.
“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.
“The Chairman of the commission, Prof. 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 during a 10-day hearing.
“The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission was constituted by Governor Chukwuma Soludo in June 2022 to inquire into the violent agitations, and restiveness in the state and in neighbouring states.
“A Bureau of Missing Persons as recommended by this Commission has already been established in the State to document the missing persons and the circumstances of their disappearance.
“We are living in alarming and anxiety inducing times.
May God heal our land. Amen.”
Chairman of the commission, Professor Odinkalu told The PUNCH: “Amb Bianca, as the Secretary to the Commission, was reporting the summary of the work we did over the course of the public hearing which concluded last week.
“The commission is proceeding with arrangements for securing the site and mobilising pathologists. Obviously, we cannot do that work under the glare of media klieglights.”
