Umahi orders arrest of Ebonyi APC chairman, Reps candidate as Policeman, 2 others killed by irate youth

From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi state Governor, David Umahi has ordered for the immediate arrest of the All Progressives Congress, APC, state chairman, Hon Stanley Okoro Emegha and the Reps candidate of Afikpo North and South federal constituency, Hon Eni Uduma Chima over the killing of three persons in Ekoli Edda.

The order is following the alleged killing of police officer, attached to the state party chairman, identified as Mr Akpan and two indigenes when suspected loyalists of the two APC stalwarts clashed in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South LGA of the state. It was gathered that the imbrigo started following an election of the community youth leader which saw the emergence of the loyalist to the House of Representatives candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon Eni Uduma Chima. The House of Reps candidate according to our source has been in logger head with the state party chairman, Hon Emegha, who challenged the exercise, prompting the intervention of the council chairman that later cancelled the election result.

It was further learnt that the party chairman during his home visit was attacked by suspected irate youth who killed a Special Protection Unit(SPU) Officer, Mr Akpan attached to the state party chairman's convoy during a gun duel. The clash, also learnt resulted to the lost of one Mr Eseni Kalu Egwu who was fatally wounded before his death and property worth millions of naira belonging to the state party chairman whose house was razed by the suspected rival loyalists. Reacting, the state governor during the spot assessment ordered for the arrest and detention of the duo.

According to statement issued by the state governor and made available to newsmen by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko, Umahi tasked the state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba to arrest and prosecute those involved in the carnage. "Governor David Nweze Umahi has directed the immediate arrest and prosecution of the State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Emegha and Candidate for Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency, Chief Eni Uduma Chima for their roles in the murder of three persons in Ekoli Edda. "Governor Umahi gave the directive during an on the spot assessment of the level of damages in the area. It added, "The Governor also directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest all those connected with the carnage and ensure they face justice. "The Governor while announcing the suspension of all social gatherings in Edda until normalcy returns, urged the Commissioner of Police to saturate the area with security presence to forestall further breakdown of law and order. "As at the time of filing this report, the whole Ekoli Edda has been cordoned off by the combined team of the Police, Army and the Ebubeagu Security outfit." he further explained.