• 12 hospitalised as Ekoli-Edda community boils
• 25 cars, motorcycles burnt in stone dealers’ union crisis in Ishiagu
From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Crises erupted in two communities in the southern part of Ebonyi State, recently, leading to scores of people being injured with large scale destruction of property.
A fracas broke out at Ishiagu Community in Ivo Local Government Area of the state between some members of Stone Dealers Association who were about holding their election on November 6.
The event slated for Isiaka, the council headquarters, reportedly turned sour even before take-off when suspected hoodlums invaded the venue and shot sporadically. They wounded many people in the ensuing confusion and burnt several vehicles and motorcycles.
This was as crisis rocked Ekoli-Edda community in Edda Local Government Council on November 8, over tussle for town union headship. At least 12 persons were allegedly brutalised and hospitalised in the process.
The stone dealers were still converging on the election venue when suddenly information filtered in that the outgoing chairman of the union, Augustine Ekeh and other persons had been attacked by the hoodlums on their way to the place.
Narrating the incident, a stakeholder of the community, Clinton Chukwu said that there was no sign of trouble before the miscreants embarked on their nefarious act, stabbing the electoral committee chairman, Charles Ajah with a bottle. They also destroyed a Sports Utility Vehicle belonging to Cornelius Chukwu and beat others mercilessly.
He also disclosed that the assailants further inflicted gunshot wounds on many who were taken for medical treatments at various hospitals after burning over 20 motorcycles. He added that there was palpable tension in the community over fears of a possible reprisal.
“It was an unfortunate incident as some members of the same community could shoot indiscriminately, cause panic and even scare the security agencies who took to their heels for refuge,” he said.
Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the attack was masterminded by one of the contestants overwhelmed with fear of losing the election. He expressed surprise that members of the same union could cause such level of havoc on their colleagues.
“Though, I am not a member of the union, almost everyone in the community was aware of the planned election and nobody was envisaging any serious dispute among the people. But all of a sudden, the same intended exercise became bloody,” he said.
Saturday Sun reliably gathered that the crisis was triggered by attempts by a top politician in the area to impose a new leadership on the union.
Another person identified as simply Mama Kingsley claimed that the attackers, after inflicting injuries on some people stole her wares, including drinks after she abandoned her shop and ran to safety.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Security in Ivo LGA, Chief Cletus Ike said that it was an unfortunate incident, noting that normalcy has since returned to the community.
He disclosed that the government had waded into the issue to ensure that normalcy returned in the area.
Ike, who disclosed that government quickly waded into the issue regretted that his office, was not notified of the union’s election. He asserted that government officials would not relent until both the remote and immediate causes of the problem were unravelled. He also assured that the perpetrators would be fished out, arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
Also, Media Assistant to Ivo Council Chairman, Richard Egu, said that his boss had directed the factional groups to bear the responsibility of the damaged items and foot the hospital bills of the injured persons.
Meanwhile, it was further gathered that a neutral person, whose name was not given, has been appointed as the caretaker chairman of the union pending the decision of the government on the matter.
In Ekoli-Edda, nerves were still frayed following the violent attack of December 26, 2022, which claimed the lives of the younger brother of the state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, and his police orderly. His country home was also burnt down.
In a similar circumstance, a seven-month pregnant woman and wife of the Ebubeagu Commander of Edda LGA, was killed and her house set ablaze, as a result of the same town union crisis.
The community boiled again as the 12 youths were allegedly beaten mercilessly with some of them sustaining machete cuts and sundry injuries because of their stand on the town union leadership tussle.
Saturday Sun learnt that the chairman of the council, Ekumankama Chima, had dissolved the exco of the town union and set up a 12-man caretaker committee, to pilot their affairs for another six months, before a fresh election will be conducted.
The action of the council boss instigated an opposing group, which insisted that caretaker committee should not be used to pilot the affairs of the town union.
But the state government said the new 12-man caretaker committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at Ekoli-Edda.
Commissioner for Internal Security, Prince Etta Ude who addressed journalists disclosed that the military had been deployed to the troubled community to maintain peace and order, adding that the state government would ensure that no life would be lost in the cause of the inauguration exercise.
“I am interested in the peace of my people. We were making sure that there is peace in Ekoli-Edda community. Ekoli community has written to me, saying that no election should hold as people had died in that community recently. To stop casualties, an interim government was set for the purpose of the town union leadership.
“The military went there to make sure that there’s peace. Almost seven causalities are in the hospital. The 12-man committee was selected from the 12 villages that make Ekoli Edda community,” he stated.
However, our correspondent was told that the inauguration was eventually halted by Governor Francis Nwifuru who directed the council boss to allow the town union leadership finish its tenure.
“The governor asked the council chairman to allow them finish their tenure which ends on December 8, this year, before he could set up a caretaker committee. And in setting up the committee in December, Gov. Nwifuru also told the chairman to ensure that the various interests are represented,” a source volunteered.