SEVEN ARRESTED FOR RAMPAGE IN EBONYI COMMUNITY AS POLICE, GOV UMAHI CONDEMN VIRAL VIDEO KILLING

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Police in Ebonyi State have arrested eleven suspects in connection with a rampage by youths of Akaeze in Ivo Local Government Area, which led to killings and burning of public and private property, including the residence of the Council Chairman and a Magistrate Court.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the incident was triggered by a viral video where a suspect, identified as Anyim Nnaogo, was seen being tortured to death for allegedly attacking his victim with machete before stealing his phone.

In the video that went viral few days ago, the suspect, in his mid 20s, whose hands were tied behind his back, was seen being tortured with an axe while another stood on his neck in what appeared to be jungle justice.

It was leant that he died during the torture, a development that triggered a protest by youths of the community who marched to the residence of the Council Chairman, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, calling for the disbandment of Ebubeagu Security Operatives, whom they alleged were behind the torture.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi state, Mrs. Loveth Oda, explained that while the youths were chanting at the residence of the Chairman, a gun shot was fired by a yet to be identified person, which allegedly killed one of them while two others sustained serious bullet wounds.

The Council Chairman, Chief Ogbadu, described the incident as unfortunate, pointing out that he never shot at the youths as alleged, insisting he was not at home when they besieged his residence.

The Traditional Ruler of Umuihie Community where the inceident occured, Eze Omazi Ubani, condemned the torture of the suspect as seen in the video, emphasising that he was already mediating in the matter when it was hijacked by youths, who burnt about seven houses, shops and vehicles.

While efforts to get the reaction of Ebubeagu Security Outfit were not successful, investigations showed that this was not the first time the activities of the local security outfit were resulting in violence.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi has condemned the violent protest that led to the destruction of lives and property in Akaeze in Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

He made the condemnation during a visit to ascertain the level of destruction during the violence in the area.

Governor Umahi directed immediate arrest of those who tortured to death a young man with an axe, which was captured on a trending video.

“I feel so sad over the couple of incidences that happened in this place. In the first place, I condemn the viral video that was making round where somebody was using an axe on a fellow human being, my position is that life is sacred and all those people that did that, whether they are in Government, whether they are Ebubeagu, whether they are stakeholders must be prosecuted immediately.

“Two wrongs must never make a right, the seven people that masterminded this must be arrested and prosecuted.

“I am not the Governor of one Party, I am the Governor of all parties, and most importantly, I am accountable to God,” the Governor remarked.

He said Ebubeagu was backed up by the law and would not be disbanded but emphasised that any operative of the outfit who violated the law must be prosecuted.

“It is important to note that Ebubeagu is a security outfit backed by law and it will not be disbanded but any Ebubeagu member that violates the law will go in for it,” he warned.

Governor Umahi urged youths in the area to embrace peace and called on security agents to step up surveillance to forestall a recurrence.