Ex-council boss and Ebonyi APC leader are detained in connection with murders.

In connection with the recent murders and arsons in the Ekoli Edda village, located in the Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, no less than 26 people have been detained.

The state’s chairman of the All Progressives Congress was among those detained.

Eni Chima, a former chairman of the Afikpo South LGA, and Stanley Okoro-Emegha are the candidates for the Federal House of Representatives from the Afikpo North/South Constituency in the general elections of 2023.

The suspects, according to the authorities, are responsible for the murders and arsons that occurred in the region on December 26, 2022.

Two people were murdered in the event, including a police inspector, and two homes were set on fire.

At a news conference held on Monday in Abakaliki, SP Chris Anyanwu, the public relations officer for the Ebonyi State Police, promised to charge them.

Anyanwu said, “The main suspects who were detained provided helpful ‘confessional statements’ that uncovered the overall overwhelming conclusions below outlined:

“On December 26, 2022, at about 4 p.m., a fight broke out between Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha’s security guards and a group of young people who were thought to be Hon. Eni Uduma Chima’s supporters.

The lengthy political competition and fight for power between the two is what led to the confrontation. It’s interesting to note that the two political heavyweights are neighbors, come from the same neighborhood, and even support the same political party.

“A small group of the local youths, who are said to be supporters of Hon. Eni Uduma Chima, were enraged by the APC chairman’s visit to his hamlet on the fatal day with his aides, which led to the altercation that followed.

The town crier, Egwu Famous Chinedu, inspired the young people to take additional action by chanting war songs while striking/blowing his gong and trumpet, respectively. As a result, there was a rampage and an increase in the commotion.

The investigation, he continued, “further revealed that an attempt to arrest one Aruah, alleged to be the leader of the Ekoli-Edda Youth Warriors, brought in the warriors, who were reserved for the purpose of engaging in combat in a boundary dispute between them and a neighboring community in Cross River State. The aforementioned fighters used highly developed illegal weapons, and their activities worsened the situation.

As the head of state and chief security officer, His Excellency, Engr. Apostle Dave Nweze Umahi, quickly intervened to defuse the situation.

“Despite the fact that the two political heavyweights are important members of his political party, the governor ordered their arrest and detention without caring whose ox was gored. He also improved and aided in the capture of the criminals and the recovery of weapons and ammo.

It is obvious that the fight at Ekoli-Edda, Afikpo-South of Ebonyi State on December 26 was caused by the dominance dispute between Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha and Hon. Eni Uduma Chima. Fourteen of the total suspects detained (some of whom are still at large) will be charged in court right away since there is a presumptive case against them for conspiracy, armed robbery, arson, unauthorized possession, and intentional damage.

Miniechat

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