Ebubeagu Commander, Others Detained By Police For Unrest In Ekoli Edda village

Nnamdi Omeoha, the Ebubeagu Commander, and twenty-five (25) additional suspects were brought before the Ebonyi State Police Command on Monday in connection with the alleged murders and willful destruction of priceless properties, including Stanley Emegha’s home, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Through the Command’s spokesperson, Chris Anyanwu, Commissioner of Police Aliyu Garba stated that the suspects were detained in relation to the killings and the destruction of homes on December 26, 2022.

Esien Kalu, Inspector Festus Akpan, and Emu Orji were killed by the accused, he said, who was also detained for conspiracy, armed robbery, arson, illegal possession of firearms, malicious damage, and murder.

According to the police: “The key actors among the suspects arrested volunteered useful” confessional statements” that exposed the aggregate of overwhelming findings hereunder outlined:

“The fracas that engulfed Ekoli-Edda on 26/12/2022 ignited at about 1600 hours during a face-off between the security aides of Hon Stanley Okoro Emegha versus a faction of Ekoli-Edda youth believed to be loyalists of Hon Eni Uduma Chima.

“The protracted political rivalry/ supremacy struggle between the duo is the cause of the showdown that took place. Interestingly, the two political stalwarts hail from the same community, belong to the same political party, and even live in close proximity.

“The visit of the APC Chairman to his village on a fateful day, with his aides, infuriated the fragment of the youths in the area who are purportedly adherents of Hon Eni Uduma Chima, hence the showdown that ensued.

“The war songs chanted by Egwu Famous Chinedu, the Town Crier, amidst hitting/blowing of his gong/trumpet, respectively, galvanized the youth into further action, hence, the rampage and escalation of the brouhaha.

The commissioner added, “Fighters who were reserved for the purpose of fighting in the Boundary Dispute between them and a neighboring town in Cross River State were brought in during an attempt to arrest one Aruah claimed to be the head of the Ekoli-Edda Youth warriors. The aforementioned fighters used highly developed illegal weapons, and their activities worsened the situation.

Furthermore, Stanley Emegha, the APC chairman, and Eni Uduma Chama were both detained at the order of Governor David Umahi, according to Aliyu.

One AK-47 rifle with live ammunition, two pump-action rifles, a Dane gun, a village gong, a trumpet, and three AK-47 magazines were among the items seized from the suspects.