By Joy Nweke
Residents of Onitsha are still in shock and deep sorrow following a horrific midnight attack that claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy, Chiagozie Nwoffiah, on Monday, March 24, 2025. Time 00:00 in the midnight.
The tragic incident, described by witnesses as “a nightmare that felt unreal,” occurred in the family’s modest home in the early hours of the morning, when suspected armed herdsmen allegedly invaded the premises in what appears to be a targeted assault.
According to initial investigations, the attackers were reportedly searching for Chiagozie’s father, who had long ago been declared wanted by authorities in a yet-unspecified case. Having allegedly scoured various locations across Nigeria without success, the assailants were said to have resorted to attacking his family.
The boy’s mother, whose name is being withheld for safety reasons, survived the attack but is still visibly traumatized. She recounted the heart-wrenching moments to our reporter:
“I heard a sudden gunshot in the night. At first, I thought I was dreaming. But when I woke up, I saw Chiagozie lying beside me, bleeding so much from the neck.
He was still breathing faintly, but I didn’t know what to do. I tried to stop the bleeding with my hands, but it was too late… my boy was slipping away,” she said, breaking down in tears.
Neighbours reported being startled by the sound of sporadic gunfire shortly before dawn. By the time help arrived, Chiagozie Nwoffiah was already unconscious, with severe neck injuries and a faint pulse. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite frantic efforts by medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries.
Security operatives have since cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt for the suspected attackers. Authorities believe the killing was an act of reprisal aimed at the missing father, although the precise details of the man’s alleged offences remain unclear.
The attack has sparked outrage among residents and human rights advocates, who have condemned the killing of a child as “barbaric, inhumane, and unacceptable in any society.” Calls are growing for urgent justice, with community leaders demanding that both the masterminds and perpetrators be apprehended without delay.
Chiagozie’s death has left a deep scar on the Onitsha community.
Friends and relatives describe him as “a quiet, kind boy who loved to play football in the streets after school” and “a child who never deserved to be dragged into the troubles of adults.”
As security forces intensify efforts to track down the the whole family and kill all who belong to Nwoffiah family, the boy’s grieving mother remains under protective watch. “They took my son,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“But they will never take away his memory from me.”
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers innocent families face in the crossfire of personal vendettas and unresolved disputes. For the residents of Onitsha, March 24, 2025, will forever be remembered as the night an innocent child’s life was cut short by violence he never invited nor understood.
