A clash between supporters of two rival stalwarts of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekoli-Edda community, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has claimed lives of a police officer and two other people, a clash said to be fallout of an election of the leadership of a youth group in the area.
Penpushing reports that, the incident happened on 26 December, 2022, while sources said the clash was between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Chairperson, Stanley Emegha and the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Afikpo North and Afikpo South Federal Constituency, Eni Uduma.
The State Chairperson of the party is also a security consultant to the Ebonyi State Government and in charge of the Ebubeagu, a security outfit that is backed by the state government, while Uduma, is a former chairperson of the local government council who finished his second term in August.
Penpushing further reports that the duo are loyalists of the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi and hail from the community but have been involved in political power tussle for a while, just as a source disclosed identity of of those killed the clash as Eseni Egwu and Eme Orji.
The clash also led to setting ablaze of one of the houses Emegha’s compound, as well as police vehicle and another vehicle in the convoy of party’s House of Representatives candidate for Afikpo North and Afikpo South Federal Constituency, Eni Uduma.
Penpushing also reports that, Ebonyi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Chris Anyanwu, confirmed the incident and killing of the officer and the two other victims in a statement, adding that investigation was ongoing.
‘Ebonyi State Police Command is investigating a case of murder, arson and malicious damages to government properties and individuals’ resulting from apparent struggle for supremacy and who controls the area politically among two notable political stalwarts in Ekoli-Edda, Afikpo South LGA of the State’, Anyanwu said.
Penpushing reports that the police spokesperson explained that when police teams were dispatched to Ekoli-Edda to restore order, they were ambushed by the youth of the area at the village entrance, adding that as at the time of this report the bodies of the three victims have been deposited at the morgues.
The Command Public Relations Officer disclosed that two suspects were arrested, while others were still at large, adding that, two gladiators of the clash were currently under protective custody to douse tension
‘Also, the two political gladiators at the middle of the whole imbroglio, who happen to hail from the same community, have been placed on protective custody to douse the tension in the area, while a scrupulous investigation has been activated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of SCIID here in Ebonyi State’, he added.
Penpushing further reports that Governor of Ebonyi State David Umahi in reaction to the ugly development has ordered the arrest of the two All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts at the centre of the clash, as well as their prosecution
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