Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
No fewer than 10 persons were injured when suspected political thugs attacked residents of Ndiche Umuomara village, Ndiagu Amagu, in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The victims, including Nze Ukwa Nwankwo, Oduge Joseph, Ucha Igwe, Ukwa Simon and Ejike Nwanchonu, sustained varying degrees of injuries during the incident and are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals across the state.
One of the victims, Nze Nwankwo Ukwa, who is being treated at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA), said he was preparing to attend a meeting convened by the traditional ruler of the community when the attack occurred.
“Before I realised what was happening, a group of persons surrounded me and descended on me. They attacked me with different weapons and inflicted serious injuries. One of my eyes is badly affected; I can hardly see with it.
“The thugs also made away with N120,000 from my pocket, my phone and other personal items. They came with soldiers who supervised the attack on us.
“Many people were seriously injured. Some had their hands tied behind their backs during the attack,” he alleged.
Ukwa said there had been no prior crisis in the community to warrant such violence but suggested that attempts by some individuals to remove the village head might have triggered the incident.
The victims have petitioned the Ebonyi State Police Command, calling for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
In a petition dated February 18, 2026, addressed to the State Commissioner of Police, Uche-Adaku Anya, their lawyer, U.C. Igba, alleged that some soldiers conspired with hoodlums to invade and attack the villagers.
According to the petition, the attackers allegedly dispossessed residents of cash and other property during the incident, thereby breaching the peace of the community.
“It is our information that these hoodlums armed themselves with dangerous weapons, including small guns, axes, locally made firearms and other lethal weapons, and attacked members of the village,” the petition read.
The lawyer further alleged that the hoodlums, in the company of soldiers led by the head of the Army in Ikwo, invaded the village, beat several residents, robbed many, burgled homes and attempted to kill others while the soldiers allegedly stood by.
He stated that the named victims were severely assaulted and are currently hospitalised as a result of the “unprovoked attack.”
The petition also alleged that some victims were tied up and beaten in the presence of the soldiers, who allegedly prevented them from escaping. It claimed that the victims were later handed over to the soldiers, who subsequently dropped them off without conducting any investigation or handing them over to the police.
The lawyer further alleged that after the soldiers left, the hoodlums destroyed property, robbed residents of five motorcycles and damaged several houses.
He claimed that the assailants were still threatening residents and engaging in actions capable of causing further unrest in the village.
“Our clients have suffered untold psychological, physical, economic and financial hardship owing to the criminal conduct of the said hoodlums,” the petition added.
The petition urged the police to conduct a discreet investigation into allegations of attempted murder, malicious damage to property and unlawful possession of arms, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
