Gunmen attack Ebonyi community, kill two villagers
Gunmen have killed two people in the Agba community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, triggering renewed fear and anxiety among locals.
The town union president, Sunday Chukwu Nwadibia, confirmed the incident and identified the victims as Sunday Oyibe, a school proprietor and chairman of the local timber association, and Chukwu Ebuka.
Nwadibia revealed that the community has been under constant siege by armed hoodlums over the past year, resulting in multiple fatalities and the loss of property and cash worth millions of naira.
He added that before this latest attack, a POS operator in the area was robbed of ₦2.7 million. The assailants, he said, often carry out their operations at night, dressed in military camouflage and bulletproof vests, creating the false impression that they are security operatives.
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“In previous attacks, they snatched a Toyota Corolla car and five motorcycles from residents,” Nwadibia recounted.
“I was in my office when people started running, saying armed robbers were at our junction. Everyone began looking for safety. I locked my office when I saw what was happening. They advanced to another junction near my house, Orie Agba, and began shooting sporadically.”
“They shot Sunday Oyibe, founder of Unique International School and chairman of the timber association.
“We rushed him to the hospital, but he didn’t survive. They also shot Chukwu Ebuka, who witnesses said was struggling to protect his iPhone.”
Nwadibia recalled a similar attack in January 2024 when gunmen riddled his home with bullets but spared the lives of his family members.
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He added that just two months ago, the gang robbed a POS operator of ₦2.7 million, and last month, they kidnapped a man from the community market.
“These attackers always mask their faces and wear military uniforms with bulletproof vests. Since they started, our people no longer move freely at night. Businesses have crumbled. Once it’s dark, the entire community goes silent,” he lamented.
Police spokesperson Joshua Ukandu confirmed the killing of the two men but said details of the incident would be obtained from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ishielu.
“Yes, I am aware something happened in Ishielu, but I will contact the DPO for full details,” Ukandu said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Chairman of Ishielu LGA, Esther Agwu, were unsuccessful as she declined to speak on the matter.
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