Finally, Police Nab Man Who Allegedly Killed 8 Persons In Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Police Command have arrested Mr. Simon Ugbala, who was said to have killed 8 persons and injured 4 others with machete in Ebonyi Local government Area of the state yesterday and thereafter ran into the bush.

LEADERSHIP gathered that one other person died from the attack from the 35 year old man bringing the total number of his victims to nine.

The suspect according to Leadership investigation revealed that on Monday in what looks like a mental breakdown went berserk and attacked his wife and two children with the machete giving them severe machete cuts which led to their death.

The alleged mentally deranged man entered his Ozibo community in Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi state and attacked some members of the community with the same machete killing four of them while four others were severely wounded and hospital.

It was also gathered that in a bid to avert further danger and killing of innocent persons, the youths of the community went in searched of the lunatic.

The youths numbering over 200 mounted surveillance in the community throughout the night in conjunction with the Police to prevent a reoccurrence.

The suspect was said to have appeared in the community next day and attacked more people killing one other person which necessitated the involvement of the Military.

The news of his re-appearance forced many parents to withdraw their kids from schools in the community for fear that he may attack the school

Their combined efforts paid off as he was arrested on Wednesday in the community and handed over to the police.

When the news of his arrest filtered into the state capital, more than 500 residents of the area trooped to the police headquarters opposite the government house gate to have a glimpse of the man that caused serious tension in the state.

Police spokesman in the command, Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.

She said the suspect was arrested by a combined team of the Police, Army and the youths of the Ozibo community in Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi state

She said the suspect has been moved to the federal Teaching hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, for Psychiatric examination at the Psychiatric Unit to ascertain his mental state.

The spokesman urged people to always take people suspected to be mentally imbalanced to hospital for treatment to prevent such incidents from happening.

“Insane person is no more one person business. When one person is suspected to be insane, the community should come together and take the person away to the community. I think they have place to stay which is Psychiatric hospital. It is a place where a suspected insane person is treated”

“You are talking about disorganizing the community, yes! When eight persons are already dead and others are in critical condition, what do you expect, she said.