Editor of Anambra News, a monthly newspaper based in Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr. Ik Udendu, has been killed by unknown gunmen suspected to be hired assassins.

The deceased was returning from Onitsha to his country home, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area Saturday night when the incident happened.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa, while confirming the dastardly act expressed concern over the incident. He said he would personally involve himself in investigating into the matter with a view to unraveling those behind the mask.

The State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Henry Nwasike, and his Secretary, Comrade Ifeoma Anumba, could not be easily reached for reaction on the deceased as at press time.

A family source said IK had left the family house on Saturday morning to a commercial printing press in Onitsha to check if his monthly paper had been produced for distribution, but he never returned home alive.
IK’s elder brother, Chukwulozie Udendu, also a journalist and publisher of Anambra News, said the body of his slain younger brother had been deposited at Iyi-Enu Hospital Mortuary, Ogidi, for autopsy.
Chukwulozie said IK had no misunderstanding or disagreement with anybody that could warrant his gruesome murder, but disclosed that he received an anonymous phone call on Saturday night telling him to go and pick his brother’s corpse in front of Okay Okay Restaurant at Afor Nkpor, only for him to go and find his lifeless body there.
He said the family members contacted the vigilante group who assisted in contacting the police from Ogidi Police Station who took the corpse to nearby Iyi-Enu Hospital Mortuary.
Chukwulozie disclosed that taking a glance at the corpse, it was discovered that the gunmen had shot him in one of his hands which penetrated his ribs and lungs. He added that a close examination of the bullet riddled part showed that IK had been killed few hours earlier at a place not where his body was found but his body was thereafter brought to Afor Nkpor and dumped there.

•Photo: Anambra State Police Commissioner, Ballah Nasarawa.