By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

There is palpable tension in Anambra State following the alleged hacking to death of two members of Anambra State Tippers Association (ASTA).

The victims, 20-year-old Mazi Chigaemezumkpa Nwafor, a native of Ndiakunwata-Nkwo Fada, Arondizuogu in Okigwe Council Area of Imo State, and Sunday Anekwe, an indigene of Anam in Anambra West LGA of Anambra State, were said to have been killed by some youths suspected to be members of the Anambra State Great Tipper Association of Nigeria and Sand Miners Association.

Speaking on the incident, the leadership of ASTA in the state said they are suspecting an alleged unholy romance between the court-restrained Tipper Union, Miners Association of Nigeria and the senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, as the only reason why their rival union has refused to obey the court order.

When contacted, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s Head Media and Strategic Communications, Comrade Kamen Chuks Ogbonna, distanced his principal from the lawless group and its alleged action.

He described Ubah as a bridge builder who does not believe in factions, saying: “The Distinguished Senator is not even aware of any factions in the tipper unions and has no hands whatsoever in any crisis amongst them, my principal will even be gladly to bring both factions to dialogue if his attention is called to this crisis.”

He called on police authorities to ensure perpetrators of the hideous crime do not escape through the backdoor

Before the murder incident, ASTA had approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Awka before His Lordship, Hon. Justice John I. Targema, and filed an Exparte Application in Suit No. NICN/AKW/28/2020, seeking, among other things, “an order of interim injunction restraining Tippers Drivers Association of Nigeria and Miners Association of Nigeria their agents, servants, privies, or any persons acting for or on their behalf from further demanding, extorting or collecting any money at all from the claimants/applicants pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

The court consequently restrained Sand Miners Association of Anambra State, Sir. Christopher Mgbegbu, Mr. Obiora Chukwuma, the Incorporated Trustees of Great Tippers Drivers Association of Nigeria, Nze Ebuka Unekwe, Jerry Ifejika, “together with their agents, servants, privies, any persons acting for or on behalf from further demanding, extorting or collecting any money at all from the ASTA members pending the hearing of the motion on notice already before the Court but instead of obeying the Court order, they opted for the violent option.”

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