The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested 10 suspects in connection with the razing of the house of the Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Emmanuel Nwangele, and a guest house, belonging to one of his aides.
It was gathered that the Special Assistant to the local government on Internally-Generated Revenue, Okechukwu Onyibe, who owned the burnt Bosco Guest House in Abakiliki had allegedly taken operatives of Ebube Agu security outfit to arrest a suspect.
Unfortunately, the suspect was beaten to death by the Ebubeagu operatives, hence provoking angry youths from the deceased suspect’s community to burn down Nwangele’s hoise and Onyibe’s guest house.
When policenen soldiers and Ebubeagu operatives arrived the scene, the angry youths allegedly engaged them in a shootout, leading to the killing of one Pastor Emeka Ogbonna of Glorious Gospel Assembly, who was hit by a stray bullet while observing morning prayers in his apartment.
The state police command in a statement by the Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Levi Philip, confirmed that ten suspects had been arrested in connection with the disturbances.
The statement partly reads: “Police in Ebonyi State arrested 10 youths who participated in burning of houses.
“The CP calls on residents of the state to remain vigilant and law abiding, and to go about their lawful business.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, regrettably wish to commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives in the ugly incident which ensued among the youths of irate Ebyia-Unuphu community, in Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
“Recall that, at about 10:00pm on the 19/09/202, some irate youth of Ebyia-Unuphu community in their numbers invaded the houses of one Okechukwu Onyibe (aka Bosco) and one Sunday Emmanuel Nwangele ‘M’, the chairman of Abakaliki LGA from Ebyia Unuphu community, set their houses ablaze on the allegation that Bosco, who owns Bosco Guest House in Abakaliki, caused the death of one Oluchi Nwibo ‘M’, aged 18 years, a youth from the community.
“Same youths mobilised to Bosco Guest House along Hatchery Road, Abakaliki, in a bid to set the guest house ablaze, but they were repelled by Police operatives on ground.
“In the early hours of 20th September, 2021, the same youths of the community regrouped to further carry out their nefarious act of setting the Bosco Guest House ablaze, but were quickly repelled by security operatives on ground.
“Unfortunately, during a gun duel which ensued between security operatives and the irate youths who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, one Pastor Emeka Ogbonna ‘M’ aged 45 years, who reside opposite the hotel, was hit by a stray bullet, and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on call.
“Meanwhile, about 10 of the irate youths who took part in the burning of the houses have been arrested and the SA to the chairman, Okechukwu Onyibe (aka Bosco), is also in Police custody.
“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the main cause of the chaos.”
