There was tension yesterday in the Akaeze community in the Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State following the alleged killing of a youth in the area by suspected members of Ebubeagu Security operatives.
It was gathered that the victim, Nnaogo Akpoke Anyim, was accused by Ebubeagu members in the area of stealing some bamboo tree from the community.
He was subsequently arrested and tortured to death by members of the Ebubeagu operatives.
In a video clip that went viral on social media, the victim was tied and kept close to a security van while Ebubeagu operatives were seen beating the victim while one of them used an ax to pierce his body.
Disturbed by the development, youths went on rampage on Sunday and took to the streets to protest the murder of their colleagues , and in the melee, two more youths were allegedly shot to death by security operatives attached to the House of the Chairman of the council, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu.
It was also gathered that a filling station belonging to Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, and houses belonging to some Ebubeagu members in the community were torched, among other properties.
A source in the area told our correspondent that “Ebubeagu operatives killed a youth in the area. The Akaeze youths after their meeting went peacefully to the Chairman of Ivo to ask him to assist them in producing the killer of the victim.
“The practice by the youth is a normal thing but the Chairman escalated the incident, which led to the youths taking laws into their hands. Two youths were shot to death at the Chairman’s house. And as it stands now, the military has taken over the community in order to maintain law and order.”
Contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah promised to call the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ivo LGA and get back to journalists on the matter.
