Soldiers Besiege Igbeagu-Izzi
--Villagers Call Govt to their Lives rescue
---Commandant Justifies Action
By Nwogha Ndubuisi Andy
Pandemonium struck Onunwakpu and Ogbodo villages in Igbeagu Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State on Thursday,Friday 19 and 20th September, 2018 when an alleged military men on four Hilux van and armoured carrier laid siege,destroying over twenty stores and cart away Twelve Thousand naira.
According to one of the victims while narrating his ordeal frolm his hideaway,Chief Ominyi Mgbada,said that he was in his compound that fateful day,besides the junction when soldiers on their van numbering four(4) and amour carrier drove on convoy and stopped and was asking from one of the villagers whom they later impounded and threw him into their van.
He said, that the military men also walked to one of his tenants who own provision store,and were asking them questions while they answered them before they launched attack on his store,destroying all his full shops,including generating set,cartons of beer,plasma Television, Chairs among others before started beating everybody at sight,an action that forced store owners to be on the run.
Also,when they saw other store owners who observed how they were beating and impoundinlgg people,started locking their shops while some of them left their stores unlock and ran for their safety.
He narrated that,at a point;the soldiers started chasing some boys and whoever they laid their hands would be beaten and bundled into their van,whereas,some of them were busy breaking into stores and destroying properties inside as they saw that the whole junction has been diserted before they zoomed off with over ten boys.
Chief Mgbada said that few boys were released at the junction check post,but remaining others later returned that day night.
On Friday, he said, most people who sustained beating and bruise all over their body were treated by a chemist store in his compound.
According to one of the victims while narrating his ordeal frolm his hideaway,Chief Ominyi Mgbada,said that he was in his compound that fateful day,besides the junction when soldiers on their van numbering four(4) and amour carrier drove on convoy and stopped and was asking from one of the villagers whom they later impounded and threw him into their van.
He said, that the military men also walked to one of his tenants who own provision store,and were asking them questions while they answered them before they launched attack on his store,destroying all his full shops,including generating set,cartons of beer,plasma Television, Chairs among others before started beating everybody at sight,an action that forced store owners to be on the run.
Also,when they saw other store owners who observed how they were beating and impoundinlgg people,started locking their shops while some of them left their stores unlock and ran for their safety.
He narrated that,at a point;the soldiers started chasing some boys and whoever they laid their hands would be beaten and bundled into their van,whereas,some of them were busy breaking into stores and destroying properties inside as they saw that the whole junction has been diserted before they zoomed off with over ten boys.
Chief Mgbada said that few boys were released at the junction check post,but remaining others later returned that day night.
On Friday, he said, most people who sustained beating and bruise all over their body were treated by a chemist store in his compound.
Same day,the soldiers on their usual attire drove past again from Cross River area,with one Hilux but later came back on convoy and drove to the community, Nwakpu market, in their return started throwing tables of market women selling groundnut away before they began their operation again.
"Our problem is that we don't know why those soldiers are after our people and this is a community that agreed to cease fire after over two months communal crisis,so,seeing soldiers in such action posed great fear on us.they broke all the doors in my compound,ransacked my rooms and took Five thousand naira my wife use for her groundnut selling business and my own seven thousand and five hundred naira I kept inside my shirt hanging inside my room,totalling twelve thousand and five hundred naira.
" They broke into a chemist store in my compound and damaged all the drugs in the store,even when one of the sales girls tried to explain to them was beaten."
"They moved from store to stores destroying everything they could see,while they drank juice in cans.
In another account, Mr.Enerst Innocent,said he was lucky to have escaped when he saw the military men but observed that twenty three shops were destroyed and thirteen villagers were injured.
Mr.Innocent hinted that some of the uniform men were suspected to be from Ukelle area as it was alleged he lead them to some selected homes far away from the junction.
In his part,Mr.Anthony umeh, the chemist store owner lamented that he lost goods worth over a million in his stores during the attacking,including his nine gallons of diesel, thirty litres each which are part of oil he saved from his filling station shut down within the war zone but the military men daggered the gallons open and pour them away.
Another eye witness, Mr.Godwin Oriji told our reporter that they were at Nwakpu market when the convoy arrived and all the traders took to their heel but he turned back and met them but learnt that they were there on search party.
Mr.Oriji said that the soldiers accused them for running away,but he was able to educate them to know that the people are still nursing fear as their enemy may appear on army camouflage to attack them especially as they have seen that their people are no longer goes with arm.
However, Lt.Colonel S.O Sadiq,Commandant Officer Nkwoagu cantonment, has blamed the action as a result of one of his soldiers who got missing and was suspected to be held in hostage by the people of the area.
In his swift response, he said that one of his soldiers(name withheld for security Reason) went to Abakaliki from Ishikom,Ukelle area to carry on bank transaction on motorcycle.
On his return,he alleged to have collected premium motor spirit from his colleague stationed at Ndiakpurata Onunwakpu, but since then was no where to be found.
According to him,one of his informant was said to have briefed them that it was at Onunwakpu axis that the soldier got missing and he was said to be announcing untop of his voice that he was a soldier but the men whisked him to an unknown destination.
"Both sides of the communities have been attacking each other, but we introduced bike to help us enroute all the crisis area,especially as the people have device a means of opening public roads to stop us from entering inside the villages.
" When the wife of my officer called that she has not seen his husband, I ordered my men to go and comb all the area and bring him either dead or alive.I want him.he said
Col.Sadiq,noted that the incident took place on Monday but his men began their search on Thursday and would not rest until he was found ,stressing that he has asked the community stakeholders to go speak to their people,though, the report he got says that he was not found
He called those behind the act to present themselves as his office has all the necessary information concerning those behind the crime and would not rest until they are produced,even as he prayed that both communities should embrace peace for nothing thrives in places of war.
Meanwhile, Chairman Igbeagu Stakeholders,and Chairman FADAMA111, Dr.Cletus Nwakpu,in an interview after stakeholders meeting held at Ndubia,briefed us that the elites and elders of the area have had several indoor and outdoor meetings reaching on all concerns in order to know if such a thing happened within their area but all have claimed ignorant.
He appealed to the security Leader to extend his tentacle to the Ukelle area as he appealed to the people to remain law abiding as all efforts are in place to bring down the tension.
Recall that Igbeagu community in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State who was bedevilled by communal crisis with Ukelle Community of Yala LGA, Cross River State has accepted to shealth their sword after both States Governors met at Port Harcourt, River state where ten points agenda communique was raised as a means to promote oneness
"Our problem is that we don't know why those soldiers are after our people and this is a community that agreed to cease fire after over two months communal crisis,so,seeing soldiers in such action posed great fear on us.they broke all the doors in my compound,ransacked my rooms and took Five thousand naira my wife use for her groundnut selling business and my own seven thousand and five hundred naira I kept inside my shirt hanging inside my room,totalling twelve thousand and five hundred naira.
" They broke into a chemist store in my compound and damaged all the drugs in the store,even when one of the sales girls tried to explain to them was beaten."
"They moved from store to stores destroying everything they could see,while they drank juice in cans.
In another account, Mr.Enerst Innocent,said he was lucky to have escaped when he saw the military men but observed that twenty three shops were destroyed and thirteen villagers were injured.
Mr.Innocent hinted that some of the uniform men were suspected to be from Ukelle area as it was alleged he lead them to some selected homes far away from the junction.
In his part,Mr.Anthony umeh, the chemist store owner lamented that he lost goods worth over a million in his stores during the attacking,including his nine gallons of diesel, thirty litres each which are part of oil he saved from his filling station shut down within the war zone but the military men daggered the gallons open and pour them away.
Another eye witness, Mr.Godwin Oriji told our reporter that they were at Nwakpu market when the convoy arrived and all the traders took to their heel but he turned back and met them but learnt that they were there on search party.
Mr.Oriji said that the soldiers accused them for running away,but he was able to educate them to know that the people are still nursing fear as their enemy may appear on army camouflage to attack them especially as they have seen that their people are no longer goes with arm.
However, Lt.Colonel S.O Sadiq,Commandant Officer Nkwoagu cantonment, has blamed the action as a result of one of his soldiers who got missing and was suspected to be held in hostage by the people of the area.
In his swift response, he said that one of his soldiers(name withheld for security Reason) went to Abakaliki from Ishikom,Ukelle area to carry on bank transaction on motorcycle.
On his return,he alleged to have collected premium motor spirit from his colleague stationed at Ndiakpurata Onunwakpu, but since then was no where to be found.
According to him,one of his informant was said to have briefed them that it was at Onunwakpu axis that the soldier got missing and he was said to be announcing untop of his voice that he was a soldier but the men whisked him to an unknown destination.
"Both sides of the communities have been attacking each other, but we introduced bike to help us enroute all the crisis area,especially as the people have device a means of opening public roads to stop us from entering inside the villages.
" When the wife of my officer called that she has not seen his husband, I ordered my men to go and comb all the area and bring him either dead or alive.I want him.he said
Col.Sadiq,noted that the incident took place on Monday but his men began their search on Thursday and would not rest until he was found ,stressing that he has asked the community stakeholders to go speak to their people,though, the report he got says that he was not found
He called those behind the act to present themselves as his office has all the necessary information concerning those behind the crime and would not rest until they are produced,even as he prayed that both communities should embrace peace for nothing thrives in places of war.
Meanwhile, Chairman Igbeagu Stakeholders,and Chairman FADAMA111, Dr.Cletus Nwakpu,in an interview after stakeholders meeting held at Ndubia,briefed us that the elites and elders of the area have had several indoor and outdoor meetings reaching on all concerns in order to know if such a thing happened within their area but all have claimed ignorant.
He appealed to the security Leader to extend his tentacle to the Ukelle area as he appealed to the people to remain law abiding as all efforts are in place to bring down the tension.
Recall that Igbeagu community in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State who was bedevilled by communal crisis with Ukelle Community of Yala LGA, Cross River State has accepted to shealth their sword after both States Governors met at Port Harcourt, River state where ten points agenda communique was raised as a means to promote oneness
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