Casualties in Ebonyi Community as hoodlums overpowered the Council Chairman and the security agencies

 

Casualties in Ebonyi Community as hoodlums overpowered the Council Chairman and the  security agencies

According to report from Ohanaeze Ndigbo News Correspondence, Mr Clinton Chukwu who was on ground to witness the breakdown of law and order in Ishiagu Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State, it was gathered that the Council Chairman Hon Ajah Emmanuel had earlier on postponed the ANO Stone Dealers Association election which was supposed to hold last week Saturday (28/10/2023) to today being the 4th of November 2023 due to security reasons.

One of the groups led by Mr. Ekeh Augustine Ekeh who incidentally is the outgoing chairman of the union has maintained calmness and express readiness to abide by the outcome of the election. They were also rumoured to be the supporters of the leading contender Mr. Ajah Francis Ugwute. 

As they were prepared to move to the Isiaka which was the venue for the election, the other groups led by Mr Olu Earnest Ndukwe (YARADUA) and Chidiebere (AA1) staged a surprising attack on them which led to many of them sustaining gunshot injuries and were currently hospitalized. Over twenty (20) motorcycles belonging to them were set ablaze by the arm bearers who continued to shoot sporadically causing panic in the community to the point that police and other security agencies had to run for their lives. 

The same hoodlums attacked the electoral committee led by Mr Charles Ajah whom they stabbed with bottles and is currently being hospitalized. They destroyed the GLK Jeep of one of the electoral committee member Mr. Cornelius Chukwu and beat others to coma. 

Another unconfirmed report by the agent of OJpower Media, he stated that those group that were attached are currently re-grouping for a reprisal or counter attack. He further stated in a viral post made on Facebook that cars were being damaged and that every Tom, Dick and Harry has left Ishiagu community to the nearby village for their safety. 

One major stakeholder of the community who pleaded anonymous said that the Council Chairman is confused and helpless as he has committed himself to both Augustine and Olu promising them to bring a successor. He further said that the young man has shifted the election to today (4/11/2023) for security reasons and there was no presence of any external security agencies to justify his claim. He has ulterior intention and only him can tell why he is creating such security gap at this dangerous time. He lately announced one of his media aide Mr. James Chukwu to head the union when things has gone out of hand. The security in obviously politicized and compromised; he added.

As at the time of filling this report, efforts to get the PPRO Ebonyi Command, Council Chairman of Ivo LGA, DPO Ivo division, Mr Olu Earnest Ndukwe (YARADUA) and Chidiebere (AA1) were abortive as their personal phone numbers were either switched off or that network is misbehaving even as some of them refused to pick their calls.

However, we calm on the state government led by the Executive Governor, Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to wade into the crisis and restore calmness to the area.