From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
Indigenes of Okporojo community in Edda local government area were yesterday thrown into state of mourning following a brutal attack which saw the beheading of four Youths and abduction of many by suspected warlords from Amasiri community in Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state.
Salient Times learnt that the Amasiri assailants ambushed their neighbouring community (Okporojo) on Thursday at about 4pm with dangerous weapons such as guns and cutlasses.
Since the renewed hostility which began last year, a total of five heads are presently in the costody of the Amasiri assailants.
The incident which thrown many residents to run for their lives came five months ago when one middle age man by name Dike Nnachi was murdered and beheaded in similar manner.
It could be recalled that the renewed hostility by the two LGAs was in struggle for a portion of land which both parties laid claim to.
Also, several houses were completely razed during the Thursday’s attack.
An eyewitness who doesn’t want his name on print said the bodies of those four killed were found without heads in Okporojo community while many residents were still missing.
A viral video circulating on social media showed houses engulfed in flames and bodies of those four men beheaded.
Confirming the incident on Friday morning, the State Commissioner for Internal Security, Chief Etta Ude, said security had been reinforced in the affected area to prevent further escalation.
“It is a fact. By 5 p.m. on Thursday, I was informed that some hoodlums invaded one of the villages in Oso Edda and massacred about four persons.
“I immediately intervened and contacted the two council chairmen. I also called the Army battalion, the police, and other security agencies, and they all moved into the area. As of now, everywhere is calm,” Ude assured.
Ude further guaranteed the perpetrators would be brought to book.
“What we have resolved with the Commissioner of Police is that there must be massive arrests so that we can get to the root cause of this problem.
“Anyone found involved will be brought to book and made to face the law,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Police Command was yet to come up with any official statement on the matter.
Earlier, the state governor, Francis Nwifuru had last year created a buffer zone and warned that nobody from both sides should farm or cultivate in the dispute surroundings.
However, the attack has disrupted vehicular movement along that axis, essentially those motorists who ply Edda road which serve as short route to reach Isuikwuato, Bende, Item, Umuahia and other nearby states.
