By Yahaya Umar, Abuja
Labour Party, LP, candidate for the November 8 Anambra State gubernatorial election Dr George Moghalu, has conveyed his “profound condolences to the grieving families, the entire student body, academic staff and management of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko over the dastardly and heart-wrenching attack by gunmen on Thursday, June 20.”
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to AljazirahNigeria yesterday by the Director, Media and Publicity,
George Moghalu Campaign Organisation, Dr Ikenna Agu.
The statement quoted Moghalu as saying that “This unspeakable tragedy, which led to the violent and untimely demise of two vibrant students, abduction of two others and the infliction of grievous bodily harm on several more, has left an indelible stain on our collective conscience. The horror of that night — marked by indiscriminate gunfire, fear and panic — stands as a brutal affront to the sanctity of life, dignity of learning and the soul of Anambra State itself.”
He therefore, expressed regret “That an institution of higher learning — a sacred citadel of enlightenment, aspiration and youthful dreams — has become a theatre of bloodshed in a state that should be a beacon of peace and security.
“It is morally appalling and politically damning. No society can lay claim to civilisation when its youths are butchered in cold blood for no just cause. No government can thump its chest in pride while its future generation is being silenced by bullets in their prime. We cannot continue like this.
“This, heinous crime is one too many. It underscores a frightening and systemic collapse of law and order in our beloved Anambra State. The creeping normalisation of violence, especially around our academic institutions, is a blight that must be addressed with urgency, sincerity and firmness. Our students deserve protection. Our campuses must remain sanctuaries of safety and learning — not hunting grounds for criminal gangs and cultic monsters.
“To the bereaved families, no words of mine can fully assuage the anguish of your unimaginable loss. I extend my heartfelt condolences and pray that God Almighty grants you the fortitude to bear this grievous burden. To those injured and currently battling for their lives, I pray for your swift and complete recovery. To the abducted, we raise our collective voices in prayer, urging the heavens and the authorities for your immediate and safe return.
“I stand in absolute solidarity with the entire Oko Polytechnic community in this moment of collective grief. Your pain is our pain. Your trauma is ours. I share in your tears and I raise my voice — not only to mourn, but to demand justice.
“Let it be known that a government that fails to secure its people, especially its students, has failed in its primary obligation. While I commend the swift deployment of a joint task force, I must also call for more enduring, intelligent and people-oriented security strategies that preempt and prevent such catastrophes. This must never happen again.
“Let this tragedy be the last of its kind. Let it provoke a radical rethink in our security architecture and a genuine commitment to the sanctity of every Anambra life. For no political ambition, no economic interest and no cultural pride can be more valuable than the life of even one child.
“May the souls of the dearly departed find eternal rest in the bosom of the Almighty and may their blood — so unjustly spilled — become the seed of our awakening,” the statement read.
