Ten persons were reportedly killed in Ukwuagba community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area ( LGA) of Ebonyi State following alleged invasion by persons armed with dangerous weapons last Saturday. This followed alleged missing of four persons of Ezza extraction on their way to a burial ceremony in their community, Effium, in the same council area on August 27.
It was gathered that 30 persons who were on their way from Enugu to Effium to attend the burial event were involved in an accident and the injured ones were taken to Ezzamgbo General Hospital for treatment. Four, out of the 30, it was gathered, proceeded to the burial ceremony while 26 stayed back in the hospital.
The 26 later proceeded to the burial event, but reportedly did not meet their colleagues upon arrival. Given that there has been an age-long land dispute between Ngbo community in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State and Agila in Ado council area of Benue State in which lives and properties have been lost, it was not clear if the families of the four missing persons carried out a reprisal or not.
Again, there was a roadblock reportedly mounted on the road leading to Effium by people from that area of Ebonyi where the 26 persons were said to have “bulldozed” their way through while heading to the burial. That was the same day the four persons got missing.
However, the state Governor, Chief David Umahi, at a meeting held in Ohaukwu council headquarters, Ezzamgbo, yesterday, ordered stakeholders from Ohaukwu especially the ones from the affected communities to produce both the four missing persons and the killers of the 10 persons.
Umahi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, not only gave the stakeholders 24 hours to furnish him with the details of what actually transpired, but also to produce the attackers of Ukwuagba community.
Earlier, Chairman of the council area, Clement Odah, a lawyer, said that he was working closely with security agencies in the state to unmask the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
