Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Barely five months after a suspected cult group attacked and killed about 20 persons at a burial ceremony in Ebenebe community, Anambra State, hoodlums suspected to be cultists have launched an attack on the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Christopher Nnaegbune, and some of his people.
The hoodlums also reportedly vandalised some items and property belonging to the monarch worth about N25M.
A source from the community said the incident occurred between 10pm and 12:00 midnight last Monday, June 27, but no life was lost.
The source said, “hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded the palace of the traditional ruler of Ebenebe, Igwe Christopher Nnaegbune, around midnight on Monday.
“The Igwe had gone to sleep. They came prepared for war; some were beating Ogene (metal gongs), while others shot sporadically into the air.
“When no one could open the gate for them, they forced it open, using their clubs and other dangerous weapons. However, they met no one outside the premises. After making noise, they left.”
It was gathered that the hoodlums same night, first visited the compound of late Chief Okoye’s family at Obuno village, Ebenebe in search of a youth leader, Mr Chukwujekwu Okoye, during which they vandalised Almaco doors, windows, chairs, generating set and other properties in the two buildings in the compound.
Although there was no information to show why the attack was launched on both people, a source, who claimed to be awake when the incident occurred, said he overheard the hoodlums saying they came to kill a member of the family, Mr Chukwujekwu Okoye.
According to the source, Chukwujekwu, who is the Chairman of Obuno Village Youth, always used security men to chase away hoodlums from the community, and the monarch was also against their nefarious activities.
An eyewitness and member of the family, Mr Festus Okoye, said he narrowly escaped death on the day of the incident, as the hoodlums, on discovering that he was inside one of the rooms with his family, ordered them to come out.
“Our life is in danger. When they forced our entrance gate open, they went round our compound, destroying all the Almaco glasses and doors to see if there are people inside any of the rooms.
“It was in the process they discovered that I was inside with my wife and my child. They ordered us to come outside. But I pleaded with them. On hearing my voice, they said ‘Oh it’s man of God, let us live him.’ That was how they spared my family,” Mr Okoye stated.
Collaborating this, Mr Chukwujekwu Okoye, who has gone into hiding since the incident, said he had reported the matter to the police, and called for government intervention to nip crime in the bud in Ebenebe, as his life and those of his family were in danger because the hoodlums were still threatening to kill him.
When contacted, the Traditional Ruler of Ebenebe, Igwe Christopher Nnaegbune, admitted that there was an attack on his palace by hoodlums on the said date, but promised to provide details later.
However, when contacted, the Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, simply said: “I don’t have such report before me, please.”
