Ebonyi Govt Seals Mining Company After Alleged Killing of Two Youths by Soldier

By Leo Osi, Abakaliki Reactions have continued to trail the alleged killing of two youths by a soldier attached to Palladium Mining Company, also known as Ambertone Logistics Ltd., in Ihetutu community, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The victims, identified as Chibuike Okoro and Obinna Akandu, were reportedly shot dead on Sunday at a location said to be far from the company's mining site. According to accounts provided by the victims' families and community leaders, the incident occurred after the youths allegedly refused to give money to soldiers who reportedly demanded payment for security purposes. However, an investigation by our Correspondent indicated that the soldiers allegedly involved were not on duty on the day of the incident, as the company had not assigned them to carry out any undercover operation.

The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with women, youths and community leaders demanding a thorough investigation and an end to what they described as the intimidation and maltreatment of residents by security personnel. Narrating the circumstances surrounding his son's death, Mr Donatus Okoro, father of one of the victims, said his 18-year-old son was called from home on Sunday morning to join other workers at the mining site. He said eyewitnesses told the family that the youths were returning from work when soldiers attached to the mining company allegedly stopped them and demanded money. According to him, the soldiers allegedly opened fire after the youths insisted that they had no money to give them. The second victim, Obinna Akandu, was identified as the son of a serving councillor representing Ihetutu Ward in Ivo Local Government Area. His father, Mr Joshua Akandu, described the incident as devastating and maintained that his son was innocent. He explained that Obinna had returned to the community on Friday afternoon after his examinations were postponed and went to the farm on Sunday before he was allegedly shot while returning. Reacting to the incident, the Ebonyi State Government condemned the killing and called for calm in the affected community. Governor Francis Nwifuru, who visited the area, described the incident as tragic and regrettable, urging the youths to remain peaceful and law-abiding while investigations continued. Represented by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chief Magnus Nkah, the governor disclosed that the soldier allegedly involved had been taken into custody and that a full investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings. The governor also announced the sealing of the mining company pending the restoration of peace and efforts to ensure justice for the deceased. The Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Chief Michael Anyim, said the community had maintained a peaceful relationship with soldiers deployed to the area before the incident. He, however, described the killing of the two youths as unwarranted and unnecessary, expressing concern over its potential to disrupt the existing peace. Anyim appealed to aggrieved youths to refrain from further attacks, arson or destruction of the mining company's property, assuring them that the local and state governments would work with the Nigerian Army to ensure justice for the victims and their families. Also speaking, the Commanding Officer of the 24 Support Engineering Regiment at Nkwagu Military Cantonment, Abakaliki, Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Chielo, said the military high command had visited the scene and that investigations were ongoing. He appealed to residents to exercise patience and allow the investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, findings by Radio Nigeria indicate that the mining company is taking steps to address the consequences of the incident and engage with the bereaved families and the host community. The company is reportedly initiating a humanitarian outreach to the families of the deceased and other community stakeholders as part of efforts to restore peace and prevent the incident from damaging its relationship with the host community. As the families mourn their loved ones, residents of Ihetutu have continued to demand justice and urgent measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident.