Chidi Odinkalu: Igwe Murders Anambra Still Haunt Governance

• This week marks 24 years since Barnabas and Amaka Igwe were murdered in Anambra State.
• Amaka Igwe was pregnant at the time of her brutal killing.
• Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School and Chair of the Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission, criticizes the current Anambra governor's perceived indifference to such crimes.
• Odinkalu suggests that a leader who disregards past atrocities cannot credibly complain about present insecurity.
• The article uses the metaphor "the fox now guards the chicken coop" to describe the state's security situation.

Odinkalu suggests that Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the incumbent governor of Anambra State, may have become desensitized, or "lost the capacity to be affronted," by such a horrific crime, especially one involving a pregnant woman.

This week marks a poignant 24-year anniversary since the brutal assassination of Barnabas and Amaka Igwe, an event that continues to cast a long shadow over Anambra State. The tragic "liquidation" of the couple remains a significant point of reference in discussions concerning justice, security, and governance within the region. For over two decades, the memory of the Igwe murders has persisted as a stark reminder of the profound violence that has afflicted the state, serving as a historical touchstone against which the efficacy of current security measures and leadership is often implicitly, or explicitly, judged. The passage of time has not diminished the call for accountability or the public's remembrance of this deeply unsettling incident.

Adding an even more harrowing dimension to the already tragic narrative, Amaka Igwe was pregnant at the time of her murder. This specific and deeply disturbing detail elevates the crime beyond a mere double homicide, underscoring its particularly heinous and unforgivable nature. The loss of an unborn child alongside its parents amplifies the profound human cost of the violence, embedding the Igwe murders as a uniquely painful and emotionally charged chapter in Anambra's history. This aspect of the crime is frequently invoked in any serious discourse about the state's enduring security challenges and the moral imperative for robust protection of its citizens.

In a pointed commentary, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School and Chair of the Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission, critically assesses the current state of affairs in Anambra, directly linking the historical Igwe murders to contemporary governance. Odinkalu suggests that Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the incumbent governor of Anambra State, may have become desensitized, or "lost the capacity to be affronted," by such a horrific crime, especially one involving a pregnant woman. This perceived indifference, according to Odinkalu, renders any complaints the governor might voice about the pervasive insecurity within the state as fundamentally hypocritical. The author implies that a leader's credibility in addressing security issues is intrinsically tied to their demonstrated concern for past and present atrocities, particularly those of such a brutal nature.

Odinkalu's critique extends to the very foundation of security provision in Anambra. He argues that if the governor truly lacks the capacity to be affronted by the murder of a pregnant woman, then the administration's efforts to ensure public safety are fundamentally compromised. The author's perspective underscores a critical principle: effective leadership on security demands a profound and consistent acknowledgment of the severity of violent crimes, both historical and contemporary. The article's evocative title, "In Anambra State, the fox now guards the chicken coop," serves as a powerful metaphor, suggesting a profound failure in the state's primary duty to protect its citizens and implying that those entrusted with safeguarding the populace may, in fact, be contributing to its vulnerability. This commentary by Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School and Chair of the Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission, directly connects the tragic Igwe murders to the ongoing challenges of governance and the persistent struggle for peace and order in Anambra.

Source: Original commentary by Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School and Chair of the Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission.