Communal clashes: 2 killed, 5 abducted on Ebonyi, Cross River boundary


Ebonyi state police command Thursday said that the killing of two, and abduction of five persons in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi state was a resurgence of the long-standing communal feud.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi state, CP Philip Sule Maku, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to journalists by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Loveth Odah.


He said the killings which happened at the Erei palm plantation located at the boundary between Ekoli Edda in Afikpo South L.G.A of Ebonyi state and Biase LGA of Cross River state, had one One Ndukwe Okoroafor ‘m’ aged about 55 years and wife, Paulina Ndukwe ‘f’ aged about 49 years slaughtered, while their son One Kalu Ndukwe narrowly escaped death.
The statement reads, “On 30/06/2020 at about 4pm the DPO Afikpo South received a distress call that gunmen from Biase LGA of Cross River State attacked some persons at Erei Palm Plantation located at the boundary between Ekoli Edda in Afikpo South L.G.A of Ebonyi State and Biase LGA of Cross River State.


“Following the report, the DPO quickly contacted the youth leader of Ekoli Edda who also informed him that an eye witness to the alleged attack on One Kalu Ndukwe who narrowly escaped with bullet wounds but saw his father One Ndukwe Okoroafor ‘m’ aged about 55 years and his mother one Paulina Ndukwe ‘f’ aged about 49 year have been slaughtered by the attackers, and that the gunmen also abducted five others which includes;- 1) One Esther Ikwo ‘f’, 2) One Elizabeth Ikwo ‘f’, 3) One Chinechere Nnachi ‘f’, 4) One Ogbonna Aku ‘f’ and 5) One Sunday Ogbuu Ama ‘m’.”
The victims were said to have been taken to an unknown destination together with the corpse of Mr. and Mrs. Ndukwe Okoroafor.


While the commissioner sued for peace among the youths of Ekoli Edda, he said a team of policemen and soldiers has been dispatched to rescue those kidnapped.
“The commissioner of police while condemning such hideous and barbaric act had dispatched a combined team of policemen and soldiers to the Area with a view to rescue the Abducted persons unhurt and arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
“Furthermore, the CP has enjoined residents of the Area especially the youths, to maintain peace, avoid taking law into their hands or acting in ways that could jeopardise investigation into the matter. 
He has also made it clear that the command under his watch will leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits of the heinous crime to book.


“To this end, the good people of Ebonyi state have been enjoined to remain law abiding and assist the police with credible information that will lead to the arrest of the culprits by reporting to the nearest police station or call the command’s emergency hotlines on; 07064515001 and 07034232125,” the statement said.

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