…Police Confirm Killing, Arrest 2 Suspects
OBINNA UCHENDU, Abakaliki
One person has been killed and many others injured in Ekoli, Edda in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
There has been tension in the community since last month after some suspected political thugs attacked and killed an aged man and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
A former Chairman of the local government and former House of Assembly member, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima and his younger brother, Chima Uduma Chima was said to have escaped death during the attack with the SUV car of the politician shattered with bullets.
Eni and the younger brother were pronounced banished by some members of the community for seven years few weeks after the incident.
The duo were accused of promoting communal war by those who banished them.
The banishment which caused tension in the community, was heightened on Wednesday following the killing of another person, Udu Nnachi Uzor.
Eyewitness account claimed that a group known as catcham boys, killed Udu in his house at Ndenworo village in the community.
His wife, Onyinye who witnessed the incident narrated in a telephone interview that the suspects, numbering about 20 accompanied and aided by soldiers and police stormed their house at about midday and asked about her husband.
“They moved straight into the room and shot him dead. He was shot by one of the Catcham members known as ‘Deri'”.
She said her husband’s remains has been deposited at the morgue.
Recounting the incident, a community leader, Chief Etta Egor said the Catcham vigilante group has been wrecking havoc and causing unnecessary tension in Ekoli-Edda.
“We sighted them going into the villages armed with pump action riffles in the company of police men and soldiers. We were wondering what the problem was this time around.
“Suddenly, we started hearing gunshots and when we rushed to the house of Nnachi Uzor, he had dropped dead already. We met the wife and family members crying. We don’t know the crime Ekoli has committed that the government has allowed these people to be attacking and killing our innocent Youths like this?”, he recounted.
Sources said a moving MAC-Truck belonging to the former council Chairman which was diverted by the thugs was still missing.
Confirming the Killing, the State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, DSP, Joshua Ukandu, We got information about gunshots in Ekoli, police teams were mobilised to the area, unfortunately, one person was killed in the shooting.
“However, the police arrested 2 suspects and currently investigating the incident. Police officers has also been deployed in the area to ensure peace while the area is calm now.
The State Police Command has severally vaded into the crisis yet hostility continued unabated. Ends.
