From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
Stakeholders from Edda local government area of Ebonyi state yesterday demanded the immediate release of their son’s head who was beheaded by suspected hoodlums alleged to be warlords in the area.
This was made known to the press by the chairman of the occasion, Sen. Sonni Ogboji on Friday during the maiden celebration of Edda New Yam festival (Ikeji Edda) at the Nguzu Edda.
Salient Times gathered that the victim by name Dike Nnachi, a middle aged man was beheaded last Tuesday.
The body of the deceased was said to have been found in a nearby bush with the head chopped off.
According to him, “we are not at war with Amasiri community as many assumed because we have always preached peace and unity among ourselves.
“We are therefore appealing to the state government to step in by making sure that this kind of ugly incident do not repeat itself again.
“Also, is to tell the state government that we have always been preaching peace and we can’t reiterate.
“What we can say now over what happened is that it is politically motivated, that is why we cannot reiterate but to ask that the head of our brother who was beheaded to be returned so that we can give him a befitting bury, if not we might take drastic action to find it,”he stated.
Speaking also the chairman of the council, Hon.Chima Ekumankama also asked the state to provide more security personnel to safe guard lives and properties in the area.
Ekumankama who condoled with the family of the deceased, added that it hurt his feelings when he sees the blood of his people been killed.
“What am only asking from the state governor is to provide more security personnel, be it soldiers or police in Edda community so as to avert this kind of ugly incident from happening again.
“It hurt me seriously when I see the blood of any Edda man in the community, pls more security personnel is what am asking for this very senseless killings to stop,”he noted.
However, one minute silence was observed in respect of the deceased during the celebration.
Recently, the people of Amasiri and Osu Edda have been at loggerhead over a piece of land.
The crisis has claimed lives and properties worth millions of naira in the area.
