Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Two young men have been shot and their bodies riddled with bullets by gunmen suspected to be Ebuneagu operatives at Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South LGA of Ebonyi State.
A source in the area said the gunmen were said to have blocked the road and opened fire on the convoy of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Julius Ama Orji popularity known as Ochiri.
Mr Orji was said to have been on his way to his hometown when the attack occurred.
He was in the company of Deputy Vice Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria, Prof Uduma Oji Uduma, and others.
The convoy, noted the source was abruptly stopped following the road blockade mounted by the gunmen.
The gunmen allegedly opened fire and two young men, whose names were given as Samuel Okam and Michael Oji, were injured.
They sustained multiple bullet wounds and are said to be receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
However, Ochiri and Prof Uduma, amongst others escaped unhurt.
The Ebubeagu outfit in Edda had allegedly accompanied the State Chairman of APC, Mr Stanley Oko Emegha, who also doubles as the Chief Security Consultant of the outfit, to a burial event at his hometown.
The security outfit had been in the news lately as the peace of the state is threatened following incessant attacks on citizens of the state especially those believed to be opponents of the APC State Governor, David Umahi, as preparations for the 2023 general election gather momentum.
Mr Oji confirmed the attack on his convoy and the shooting of the two young men.
He claimed that the attack was allegedly carried out at the instance of the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Stanley Okoro Emegha, on Saturday at Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Okoro Emegha doubles as the Security Consultant to the State Government and is in charge of Ebubeagu in the State.
Ama Orji, said he left a burial ground at Ekoli Edda in the company of two other prominent men when the APC chairman barricaded the road with Ebubeagu personnel.
Ama Orji, who noted that he has no problem with Emegha, wondered what will warrant such an attack on him.
He said: “Yes my convoy was attacked as I was coming from Senator Ogbuorji’s house on Saturday, coming through Ekoli Edda, Stanley Emegha the APC chairman and his Ebubeagu militia blocked me, started pulling some people from my car, shot two people, and my policemen were very active so I just managed to escape.
“The two guys are still in the hospital receiving treatment. They shot at one of the cars following me and shot two guys on the bike, then they opened the car that was following and that was the car I use often.
“But this time around I used one of the Prado jeeps I brought down from Lagos, and this is the first time I’m using it so I believe they did not know that I was not in the other car, so the other policeman was radioing the ones with me to quickly take me out from the scene. I believe I was their target because they knew it was my convoy.”
“I was told that Stanley was insisting that he must embarrass somebody today, calling my name and saying that he has made money to fight me. The only thing I know is that I’m in PDP and they are in APC
“I have reported the issue to the police, I even called the commissioner of police myself.”
Contacted for reaction, Emegha asked if our Reporter saw the people allegedly shot.
“Did you see the people, which hospital is there,” he queried before cutting the call.
Police spokesperson, Chris Anyanwu, said the report was not on his table.
“I have not been officially informed, I only got the information when a journalist called to ask me.
When told that the victim whose convoy was attacked said he called the Commissioner of Police to inform him, the Mr Anyanwu said, “if he called the Commissioner that means the Police are working on it.”
