Ebonyi APC crisis: Police inspector, youth leader, chairman’s brother killed

By Clement Nnachi (Abakaliki)

A 39-year-old man, one Mr Eseni Egwu, a police officer and another person has been confirmed dead in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following a bloody clash between thugs loyal to a party stalwart in the area and operatives of Ebubeagu Security Network.

It was gathered that the operatives of the Ebubeagu Security Network accompanied the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC who is also the State Security Consultant, Chief Stanley Emegha to his country home for Christmas celebration.

 

It was learnt that trouble started when members of the Ebebeagu Security Outfit allegedly arrived the market square in the area in company of Chief Emegha drove round the market and started shooting shot into the air and later zoomed off.

 

A source who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said that the shooting angered the thugs who sees the action of the security network as intimidation and harassment which later prompted the elders of the community to order non natives to leave the community.

 

It was gathered that in a bid to enforce the directive of the elders of the community, the members of Ebubeagu Security Network who resumed shooting when the thugs made attempt to chase the non natives out of the community allegedly shot and killed Mr. Egwu.

 

The incident according to the source occurred at about 6pm yesterday

 

The thugs were said to have regrouped few hours after the death of Egwu and proceeded to the country home of Chief Emegha at Ekoli Edda Community at about 10.18pm and razed his building.

 

A resident of the community who also spoke on grounds of anonymity said that the outcome of a youth election in the community didn’t go down well with the APC State Chairman Okoro-Emegha who reportedly drew the attention of the new council area chairman, Chima Ekumankama, who subsequently cancelled the election.

 

It was gathered that the Council boss also disbanded the group.

 

Reacting to the development, Chief Emegha, said he was attacked by thugs loyal to a politician in the area, saying his house had equally been burnt by the miscreants.

 

“Yes. It’s true. They attacked me last night at Ekoli Edda community, and the same people, some of whom I know, I have just heard, burnt my house.

 

“These are Eni’s boys; they attacked me and they are the people that burnt my house. I call on the police and other security agencies to swing into action. They know what to do to unravel the truth of the matter. They know what to do.”

 

The elder brother of the deceased, Mr. Mission Egwu expressed the regret over the death of his sibling’s describing the killing as senseless and premeditated.

 

He maintained that the community has been lockdown as a result of the crisis in the area.

 

What happened in Ekoli Edda today is an unfortunate and senseless killing. It is unfortunate in the sense that the life of a vibrant young man in active community service has been cut short. It is senseless that there was no provocation for his killing.

Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, has ordered the arrest of the State All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha  and the party House of Representative Candidate Hon Eni Uduma Chima over murder of three persons.

 

In a Statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media/Strategy  Mr Chooks Oko on Tuesday, stated that Umahi equally directed the immediate prosecution of the trio.

 

“Governor David Nweze Umahi has directed the immediate arrest and prosecution of the State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Emegha and Candidate for Afikpo North/ South Federal Constituency, Chief Eni Uduma Chima,  for their roles in the murder of three persons in Ekoli Edda”

 

According to the Statement, ” Umahi gave the directive during an on the spot assessment of the level of damages in the area”

 

The Statement added that the State Chief Executive, equally directed the Commissioner of Police Aliyu Garba, to arrest all those connected with the carnage and ensure they face justice.

 

“the Commissioner of Police was directed  to saturate the area with security presence to forestall further breakdown of law and order”

 

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of an Inspector and two persons  in Ekoli Afikpo South Local Government Area of the State during a clash of rival groups.

 

In a Press Release Release  dated 27/12 /2022, signed by State Police Public Relations Officer SP Chris Anyanwu  titled ‘Loss of Lives/wanton Destruction at Ekoli-Edda in Afikpo South Local Government Area.

 

According to the Press Release, “Ebonyi State Police Command is presently investigating a case of Murder and Malicious Damages to Government properties and individuals resulting from apparent struggle for supremacy and who controls the area politically among two notable  political stalwarts”

 

The Press Statement marked AZ 5200 /PPRO/Vol 8/119 opined  ‘At about 1630hrs of 26/12/2022, a day popularly known as “Boxing Day”, a distress call was received that sporadic shootings and killings were going on at Ekoli-Edda between Ebubeagu operatives who accompanied their boss, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, the State’s APC Chairman, and another group of men purported to be loyalists to the immediate past Council Chairman, Hon Dr Chima Eni”

 

” It was further gathered that the open shoot-out was not far-fetched from previous grudges existing among the two factions”

 

The Statement added,  ‘a youth leader identified as Eseni Kalu Egwu, was fatally wounded, later rushed to a neighboring  hospital at Ohafia, Abia State where he was confirmed dead”

 

It added, “angered by his death, the youths of the area mobilized and went on rampage, killing Eme Orji, a younger brother of the State APC Chairman and an Inspector of Police attached to Special Police Unit (SPU)”

 

“The irate youth equally set ablaze the village house of Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, his Toyota Hilux van and a Toyota SIENNA space bus belonging to the Police Command’s Tactical Team’s”

 

The Statement noted,  “the Tactical Teams were despatched to Ekoli-Edda to take control of the situation, they were ambushed by the youth of the area at the village entrance.

 

However, the operatives manouevred unhurt, as the bodies of the three deceased persons have been evacuated and deposited at different morgues.

 

The Statement added that two suspects were arrested among the irate youths while others were still at large.

 

*the two political gladiators at the middle of the whole imbroglio have been placed on protective custody to douse the tension in the area, while a scrupulous investigation has been activated by the Ebonyi State Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID).

 

It was gathered that the State Commissioner of Police  CP Aliyu Garba, has visited the scene and called on residents to remain calm.