Umahi orders arrest of Ebonyi APC Chairman/House of Reps Candidate over murder

CLEMENT NNACHI ,Abakaliki

 

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 dispatched 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.

 

 

For a better society

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