Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the death of three persons in a clash between a group of men purported to be loyalists of the immediate past council chairman, Dr Eni Uduma Chima who is also the APC flag-bearer for the House of Representatives in the area and men of the Ebubeagu Security Network.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Chris Anyanwu and made available to LEADERSHIP said that the command is investigating a case of murder, arson and malicious damages to government properties and individuals.
He said the murder and arson was as a result of struggle for supremacy and who controls the area politically among two notable political stalwarts in Ekoli-Edda, Afikpo South LGA of the state.
He said at about 1630hrs of 26/12/2022, (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 the thugs.
He stated that information revealed that the shoot-out was not far-fetched from previous grudges existing among the two factions adding that In the process, a youth leader identified as Eseni Kalu Egwu was shot and later rushed to a neighbouring hospital at Ohafia, Abia State where he was confirmed dead.
“Angered by his death, the youth 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 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 Teams”.
SP Anyanwu said that the tactical teams of the state Police Command were dispatched to Ekoli-Edda to take control of the situation adding that they were ambushed by the youth of the area at the village entrance.
He stated that the bodies of the three deceased persons have been evacuated and deposited at different morgues noting that two suspects were arrested among the irate youth while others are still at large.
“The two political gladiators at the middle of the whole imbroglio, who happen to hail from the same community, have been placed on protective custody to douse the tension in the area, while a scrupulous investigation has been activated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of SCIID here in Ebonyi State,” he added.
He said that the commissioner of police, CP Aliyu Garba who has visited the scene, advised that everyone affected in one way or the other in the ugly development should keep calm as he wades into the matter.
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