From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) has discovered a mass grave with three hundred and twenty two persons in Anambra State.
Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, wife of late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, has disclosed the existence of a mass grave.
Ojukwu said further that the mass grave has been sealed off for forensic investigation.
The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain however did not disclose the location of the grave site, but added that the discovery of the mass grave was brought through testimonies, to the attention of the commission.
She added that about 322 persons were verified as killed or dead as a result of violence as testified by the witnesses who appeared before the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission.
Recall that the Truth, Justice and Peace Commission was constituted by the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, in June 2022 to inquire into the development.
The former ambassador added, “So many people 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.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu noted that a Bureau of Missing Persons as recommended by the commission has already been established in the state to document the missing and the circumstances of their disappearance.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Anambra command, Ikenga Tochukwu could not pick his call when our correspondent called him for confirmation.