Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Three persons were killed in a night attack by gunmen on Akpoha community, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Ikengaonline reports that some residents of the community also sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack, which happened on Saturday night.
Those killed include a member of the defunct Ebubeagu Security Network which transformed into Neighborhood Security Watch (NSW), a lady trader and a man who was staying close to the state local vigilante member that was killed.
A resident of the area, Uche Donatus, said that about 10 bullets are inside the body of the slain Neighborhood Security Watch.
He noted that bullets from the sporadic shooting by the gunmen were hitting the roof of his house which forced him out of the house.
“Our community was attacked on Saturday night. Three persons are lying dead as I speak to you.
“One of the three corpses lying on the ground is a member of Ebubeagu Security Network. He has up to 10 bullets in his body.
“The gunmen came with two motorcycles. When they were leaving, one of the motorcycles refused to on (sic) and they continued shooting heavily untill it started and they left”
“These are the three persons that were killed after a heavy shooting at AkpohaIgbo by gunmen who came to execute this mayhem with two motorcycles.
“Their names are; Emmanuel Nwacha Egwu Nicholas Nwacha and INYA Blessing Orieona. Killings in Akpoha have become regular occurrence and nothing has been done to stop it. We are in trouble,” Uche said.
Uche who is the Youth President of Akpoha community, said Emmanuel Nwacha is the leader of Neighbourhood Security Watch in the area and also the Chief Security Officer of the company handling the construction of a new bridge in the community by the Federal Government.
He disclosed that many bullets were picked by policemen in the community who evacuated the bodies of the deceased.
An Aide to Governor Francis Nwifuru from the area, Kenneth Orji Obasi, confirmed the incident.
Mr Obasi, who is the Coordinator of Akpoha Development Center (the Fourth tier of government in the state), said the corpses of the victims have been deposited in the morgue.
He noted that the he received a call that gunmen were shooting heavily on Akpoha junction around 8pm on Saturday night and dispatched some members of the Neighborhood Security Watch to the scene.
“On getting to the scene, I saw three persons lying dead on the ground. I have taken their corpses to the mortuary while the incident has been reported to the police,” Obasi said.
Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, said he was yet to receive any report on the incident.
