Tragedy struck in Akaeze community, Ivo LGA,Ebonyi State, yesterday, as the Chairman of the Local Government Area, Mr. Onyebuchi Ogbadu, allegedly shot dead a youth and injured others who were on a protest march to his residence over the killing of one Nnaogo Akpoke Anyim by the Ebubeagu security outfit.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the youths from Umobor ward had gone to the chairman’s residence to inform him about the activities of the Ebubeagu operatives, waving palm fronds when he pulled a gun and fired at the advancing youths which hit one Elueke Okor and injured others.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the youths were infuriated over the killing of Nnaogo by the Ebubeagu operatives over a disagreement between him and one Engr. Ajuomiwe.
“The Ebubeagu security people arrested and brutally tortured Nnaogo to death over a minor disagreement with Engr. Ajuomiwe. The youths are not happy with the killing of Nnago and how the Ebubeagu people used machete to cut all parts of his body. We decided to march to the chairman’s house to inform him of what happened and that the government should order Ebubeagu to stop killing our youths. It was a peaceful march, we were waving green leaves, and there was no violence. Immediately we marched into the chairman’s house, it was like he got information that the youths were coming, he shot a gun into the crowd which hit Elueke and he died, others were injured others. Many youths ran away,” the sources said.
The sources also disclosed that news of Elueke’s death from the shots fired by the chairman caused outrage in the Akaeze community who were still mourning the killing of Nnaogo by the Ebubeagu security outfit. Within few minutes of the incident, the chairman’s residence and a filling station belonging to him were said to have been torched by irate youths.
Over 10 youths are said to be receiving medical attention at different clinics at Akaeze and neigbouring Mpu community in Enugu state following injuries they sustained in the attack. The crisis is said to have taken a partisan dimension as the late Nnaogo was a member of the PDP while Engr. Ajuomiwe belongs to the APC, even as the Ebubeagu operatives are alleging showing bias against members of the opposition parties in the community.
Pointblanknews.com further gathered that soldiers who had been drafted to restore peace have worsened the problem by working with the Ebubeagu security outfit in manhandling innocent residents of the community.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State, Mrs Loveth Odah, were not successful as she did not respond to calls placed on her telephone.
