Scores feared dead as gunmen go on rampage in Ebonyi communities

[CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Attacks on Isu and Onicha Igboeze communities in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by gunmen, Thursday morning have reportedly left 10 persons dead.

This is just as suspected political thugs, Wednesday, invaded Nkalagu community, Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State and injured no fewer than 10 persons.

Two policemen were said to have been killed in Isu, others were killed in Onicha Igboeze community in the Thursday attacks, according to sources.

Two lawyers who were passing by, it was learnt, unfortunately ran into the gunmen.

The lawyers were robbed and their car set ablaze by the hoodlums who operated on a Lexus Jeep.

The state spokesman, DSP Loveth Odah, confirmed the attacks but said the details were still sketchy.

She however, noted that the State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba had dispatched a team to the area to arrest the situation..

This is coming barely 24 hours the State Governor David Umahi declared that his administration would not tolerate any further killings in the State.

Umahi had on Wednesday during the signing of the second phase of contracts of the Ebonyi state ring road project, warned that the Local Government Council Chairmen, Development Centre Coordinators, and the Traditional Rulers would henceforth be held accountable for any further killing within their localities.

The Governor said he would not hesitate to deploy every lawful means to suspend the aforementioned categories of people if any part of the State witnessed any further killings.

He however, said his government was ready to suspend all projects and empower the bandits, if they could lay down their arms, even as he warned that his administration would not tolerate further killings, saying, no more killings again in Ebonyi State.”

“Let me warn all the Local Government Council Chairmen, traditional Rulers, Development Centre Coordinators and parents that henceforth, they would be held responsible for any killing in the State.

“Let me warn all the Local Government Council Chairmen, traditional Rulers, Development Centre Coordinators and  parents that henceforth, they would be held responsible for any killing in the State”, he declared.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that suspected political thugs, Wednesday, invaded Nkalagu community, Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State and injured no fewer than 10 persons.

The thugs who went on rampage destroyed buildings including that of the acting traditional ruler of Nkalagu community, Eze Livinus Umeanu, the Nkalagu Town Union President, Nkalagu community,  Omaha Joseph, that of the Village Chief of Imeoha, Chief James Mbagu, among others.

The hoodlums also set ablaze motorcycles, and carted away cash and other valuable  items belonging to the natives.

Undisclosed amount of money were also burnt. Other items destroyed by the thugs include, 4 deep freezers, GP tanks, 2 generating sets and other household appliances.

The Town Union President of the community, Omabe Joseph said that trouble ensued when the community rose against, a youth leader in the community, Mr. Emeka Onukwube and his gang who allegedly specialized in vandalising the properties of Nigercem Cement Company in the community.

Omebe regretted that despite the efforts of Chief Cletus Ibeto to revive the premier cement factory in the community, Mr. Onukwube and his gang had been going into the factory to cart away equipment of the company and sell them as scraps to waiting buyers.

He noted that when the community realized what was happening, they mobilized security personnel who accosted them and ensured that their activities were stopped, adding that the community also removed him as the youth leader of the community.

The Town Union President noted that he vowed to create crisis in the community and also ensured that anyone who had a hand in his removal as youth leader and stoppage of his activities would face his wrath.

Omabe expressed the regret that few days ago, Mr. Onukwube had a fight with his cousin who was also against his activities in the community, adding that after the fight, he left and mobilized his friends and other thugs, brought them into the community, attacked people and destroyed properties worth millions.

The Town Union President also alleged that the hoodlums were acting on the instruction of a politician whom he said used the thugs to unleash mayhem on his supposed political enemies.

Another Victim,  Awara Sampson who described the attack on the community as unfortunate called on the Commissioner for Police, the Director of the State Security Service and the State government to ensure the arrest of those who masterminded the attacks on the members of the community.

The deposed youth leader, Emeka Onukwube, could not be reached to react to the allegations.