One person has been killed and many others injured in Ekoli, Edda in Edda local government area of Ebonyi State.
Tension started building up in the community last month when suspected political thugs killed an aged man and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
A former chairman of the council and former member of the state House of Assembly Dr. Eni Uduma Chima and his younger brother, Chima Uduma Chima, escaped death during the attack with the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the politician shattered with bullets.
Eni said the younger brother was banished by some members of the community for seven years a few weeks after the incident occurred.
They were accused of promoting communal war by those who banished them.
The banishment which caused tension in the community, was heightened on Wednesday with the killing of another person, Udu Nnachi Uzor.
Some eyewitnesses said a group known as “Catcham Boys” killed Udu in his house at Ndenworo village.
His wife, Onyinye, who witnessed the incident, said the suspects, numbering about 20 accompanied and aided by suspected soldiers and policemen, stormed their house at midday and asked about her husband.
“They moved straight into the room and shot him dead. He was shot by one of the ‘Catcham’ members known as ‘Deri'”.
She said her husband’s remains have been deposited in the morgue.
A community leader, Chief Etta Egor said the “Catcham Vigilante Group” has been wreaking havoc and causing tension in Ekoli-Edda.
“We sighted them going into villages armed with pump action rifles in the company of some policemen and soldiers. We were wondering what the problem was this time around.
“Suddenly, we started hearing gunshots and when we rushed to the house of Nnachi Uzor, he was already dead.
We met the wife and family members crying. We don’t know the crime Ekoli has committed that the government has allowed these people to be attacking and killing our innocent youths?”, he recounted.
Sources said a moving MAC-Truck belonging to the former council chairman which was diverted by the thugs was still missing.
The police public relations officer, Joshua Ukandu, said, “We got information about gunshots in Ekoli, police teams were mobilised to the area, unfortunately, one person was killed in the shooting.
“However, the police arrested two suspects and are currently investigating the incident. Police officers have also been deployed in the area to ensure peace while the place is calm now,” he said.
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