*Umahi orders arrest of culprits
By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of three persons in Ekoli-Edda over a political tussle between the State All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Chief Stanley Okoroemegha and the former LGA chairman of the council, who is the House of Representatives candidate of APC, Barrister Eni Uduma Chima.
As a result of this, Governor David Umahi has ordered for the arrest of both of them, pending investigation into the matter.
According to the press release issued by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chris Anyanwu, the incident occurred on Monday at about 16:30hrs, when 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 Chief Security Consultant, and another group of men purported to be loyalists to the immediate past Council Chairman, Hon Chima Eni, who is also the APC flag-bearer for National House of Representatives in the area.
He further stated that, “Ebonyi State Police Command is presently investigating a case of murder, arson and malicious damages to government property and individuals’ resulting from apparent struggle for supremacy and who controls the area politically among two notable political stalwarts in Ekoli-Edda, Afikpo South LGA of the state.
“It was gathered that the open shoot-out was not far-fetched from previous grudges existing among the two factions. In the process, 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.
“Angered by his death, the youth of the area mobilized and went on rampage, killing Eme Orji, a younger brother of Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha and an Inspector of Police attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU). The irate youth equally set ablaze the village house of the Security Consultant, his Toyota Hilux van and a Toyota SIENNA space bus belonging to the Police Command’s Tactical Teams.
“When the Tactical Teams were despatched 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 were unhurt.
“The bodies of the three deceased persons have been evacuated and deposited at different morgues. A total of eight suspects were arrested among the irate youth while others are still at large.
“Also, 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.
Also, Governor David Nweze Umahi has directed the immediate arrest and prosecution of the State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Emegha and Candidate for Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency, Chief Eni Uduma Chima for their roles in the murder of three persons in Ekoli Edda.
Governor Umahi gave the directive during an on the spot assessment of the level of damages in the area.
The governor also directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest all those connected with the carnage and ensure they face justice.
The governor while announcing the suspension of all social gatherings in Edda until normalcy returns, urged the Commissioner of Police to saturate the area with security presence to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
