Sun Newspaper's correspondent, Police, others attack in Ebonyi

From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, Uchenna Inya, policemen, soldiers, a Magistrate attached to the state judiciary, Amaechi Nwakpa and many persons, yesterday escaped death in Nkomoro community, Ezza North local government area of the state.

The people of the community have been at war over kingship. Inya went to cover the election/coronation of a new traditional ruler of the community when thugs attacked him and vandalized his corolla vehicle while returning to Abakaliki. The thugs also attacked policemen, soldiers, a Magistrate Amaechi Nwakpa and some government officials including the Secretary of Ezza North local government, Mrs. Samuel Nweke, Chika Igboke and other officials and vandalized their own cars.

Motorcycles, tricycles and other valuable properties were also destroyed by the thugs. The thugs were armed with weapons including sticks, rods, stones and other weapons. Some members of the community had raised objection to the letter from the state Ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters which ordered the coronation of a former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Jacob Nwakpa.

The letter was read by Chika Igboke the Coordinator of Imoha Development Center. A member of the community immediately came out with a paper and said that there is a court order restraining the election and coronation of a traditional ruler of the community. He pleaded that the exercise should not hold. After the man's remarks, Chief Jacob Nwakpa was coronated. After the coronation, youths armed with weapons, blocked the entry and exit points of Okpoku Eze secondary school venue of the exercise and started vandalizing vehicles. Daily Sun gathered that the angry youths loyal to Oscar Nwafor went inside the community and burnt some properties. after vandalizing the vehicles.