May 28, (THEWILL) – Gunmen operating on motorcycles have attacked and killed three persons in the Akpoha community, Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi State
The gunmen invaded the community at about 8 pm on Saturday, shooting sporadically.
Many residents of the community sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack.
Those killed included a member of the state-defunct Ebubeagu Security Network, which transformed into Neighbourhood Security Watch (NSW), a female trader and a man who was staying close to the state’s local vigilante member.
A resident of the area, Uche Donatus, said that about 10 bullets are inside the body of the slain Neighbourhood Security Watch.
He noted that bullets from the sporadic shooting by the gunmen were hitting the roof of his house which forced him to run for his life.
“Our community was attacked on Saturday night. Three people are lying dead as I speak to you.
“One of the three corpses lying on the ground is a member of Ebubeagu Security Network. He has up to 10 bullets in his body.
The gunmen came with two motorcycles. When they were leaving, one of the motorcycles refused to go on and they continued shooting heavily until it started and they left.
“These are the three persons that were killed after a heavy shooting at AkpohaIgbo by gunmen who came to execute this mayhem with two motorcycles.
“Their names are Emmanuel Nwacha, Egwu Nicholas Nwacha and INYA Blessing Orieona. Killings in Akpoha have become a regular occurrence and nothing has been done to stop it. We are in trouble”, he said.
One Mr Uche, the Youth President of the Akpoha community, said Emmanuel Nwacha is the leader of Neighbourhood Security Watch in the area and Chief Security Office of the company handling the construction of a new bridge in the community by the federal government.
He disclosed that many bullets were picked up by policemen in the community who evacuated the bodies of the deceased.
Coordinator of Akpoha Development Centre, Kenneth Orji Obasi, who confirmed the incident said the bodies of the victims have been deposited in the morgue.
He noted that he received a call that gunmen were shooting heavily on Akpoha junction around 8 pm on Saturday and he sent some members of the Neighborhood Security Watch to the scene.
“On getting to the scene, I saw three persons lying dead on the ground. I have taken their corpses to the mortuary while the incident has been reported to the police” Obasi said.
The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu said he was yet to receive any report on the incident.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
