Polycarp Sola-Abakaliki
The police in Ebonyi State have paraded suspects and recovered assorted arms in connection to the Ekoli-Edda Mayhem, which occurred in Afikpo South local government area of the State on the 26th of December 2022.
It would be recalled that 3 persons including a police inspector lost thier lives, and properties worth millions, including a house belonging to the APC chairman, Mr Stanley Okoro Emegha were destroyed.
In a statement, the police spokesperson, CP Chris Anyawu attributed the cause of the crisis to leadership tussle between Mr Stanley Okoro Emegha and the former council chairman, Hon. Eni Uduma Chima, he said;
“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 same community, belong to same political party and even live in close proximity.
“The visit of the APC Chairman to his village on the 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” it stated
He further said items recovered from the suspects include 1 AK47 rifle and its live ammunitions , 2 Pump-Action rifles,1dane gun 1 village gong,1 trumpet
and 3 AK47 magazines;
“A total of 26 male suspects were rounded up in the course of investigation as follows;
1. Hon Eni Uduma Chima
2. Hon Stanley Okoro Emegha
3. Kenneth Okoro Agha a.k.a Mukoro
4. Azubuike Okoro
5. Okporie Nnanna Oti
6. Egwu Famous Chinedu
7. Chimeremeze Stephen Umeh
8. Oburu Okoro Orji
9. Uka Amah Orji
10. Orji David
11. Aku Sunday
12. Oledi Philip
13. Onyemuche Uka Ama
14. Igwe Okoro Ozi
15. Eni Kalu Eni
16. Chima Nnachi Kalu
17. Chinecherem Orji Morgan
18. Chima Oke Nkama
19. Okechukwu Mba
20. Okoro Ifeanyi
21. Ukam Igbor
22. Nnamdi Omeoha
23. Ikechukwu Omiko
24. Obinna Ugoba
25. Onuorah Nnamdi Isaac
26. Tochukwu Alo.
One of the suspects, Egwu Famous Chinedu, the Town Crier, was said to have chanted war songs, “amidst hitting/blowing of his gong/trumpet, respectively, which galvanized the youth into further àction, hence, the rampage and escalation of the brouhaha”.
“The investigation further revealed that an attempt to arrest one Aruah said to be the leader of the Ekoli-Edda Youth warriors, brought in the warriors who were reserved for the purpose of fighting in the Boundary Dispute between them and a neighbouring community in Cross River State. The said warriors wielded sophisticated prohibited firearms and their actions further degenerated the situation.”.
While commending the timely response of the State Governor, Engr David Umahi, who immediately ordered for the arrest of the suspects, called on the youths of the area to learn from the lessons thereof and avoid all forms of crime and criminality.