Elections: 1 dead, 8 injured as gunmen storm Ebonyi communities

Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki

A member of the local vigilante was shot dead while six others sustained gunshot injuries when gunmen suspected to be political thugs stormed Obegu Mkpuma-Akpatakpa area of Nwofe community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The incident, Sunday Sun gathered, took place in the eve of the postponed Presidential and National Assembly Elections few hours before the announcement hit the news waves.

As at the time of filing this report, the survivors of the gun attack were receiving treatment at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the second phase of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHAII).

One of the victims, Mr. Emmanuel Nwokporo, told Sunday Sun that he was on duty alongside his colleagues when one of their kinsmen recklessly stormed their checkpoint. He said that their effort to caution him sparked an altercation that made him mobilize his gang members to the scene.

Nwokporo said: “We were on duty when our kinsman came around on high speed. So, we flagged him down and queried why he was riding recklessly. He started abusing us and accused us of flashing torch on his face.

“He said that he was going to deal with us. He left. Shortly, he returned with his gang members who came in a vehicle. Before we knew what was happening, there were gunshots everywhere. Seven of us were shot but one person died”, he narrated. In a related development, a gang of six boys suspected to be political thugs stormed Ntezi community in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state between 7 and 8pm; few hours to the eve of the postponed election.

Sunday Sun gathered that the hoodlums injured a 9-year-old boy, Chibuike Aja, who was returning home from shop with his mother; and a man, Mr Onyebuchi Awoke, who returned home that evening in order to participate in the election.

Awoke, who spoke to Sunday Sun on his hospital bed, lamented that he returned home to carry out his civic responsibility only to be welcomed home with bullets.

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Loveth Odah, said that she was not aware of the incidents.