Gunmen kill Ebubeagu commander in Ebonyi

 Gunmen kill Ebubeagu commander in Ebonyi Gunmen, on Wednesday, killed the Commander of Ebubeagu Security Outfit in the Ezza North Local Gov...

 Gunmen kill Ebubeagu commander in Ebonyi

Gunmen, on Wednesday, killed the Commander of Ebubeagu Security Outfit in the Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr. Magnus Iganda.

The PUNCH reports that Iganda was killed in his house by yet-to-be identified assailants in the early hours of Wednesday.

A community source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the situation caused panic in Umuezeoka community and Nkomoro village.

He said, “The gunmen came to his house in the morning of Wednesday. 

They said they came to his house on a motorcyclist and they were two. They shot him. School children ran out of their classrooms the moment news of the incident got to Nkomoro village. Women and traders were seen locking their shops.”

A stakeholder in the area, who is also the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Ezza North LGA, Mr. Emeka Nwonu, confirmed the incident and described it as shocking and barbaric.

In a statement he issued on behalf of the party in the area, Nwonu called on security agencies to fish out the killers of the Ebubeagu commander.

The statement read, “The All Progressives Congress, APC Ezza North Local Government Area has received with shock, the sad news of the gruesome murder of the Commander of Ebubeagu Security Outfit, Ezza North Local Government Area, Mr Magnus Iganda, by yet-to-be identified gun men in the early hours of today.

“The news about his killing is shocking, and we wonder why some individuals take delight in the termination of lives of fellow humans instead of being the keepers of those fellows as instructed by the scriptures to be our brothers’ keepers.

“Our prayers and thoughts are with the immediate family members, the people of Umuezeoka, the government and the good people of Ezza North LGA on this irreplaceable loss.

“We therefore, call on the security agents to deploy their professional techniques and ensure that the killers are fished out and be punished accordingly” he said.

Effort to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, in the state, Mrs Loveth Odah, for comment was not successful as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, last month Ebubeagu invaded Imo communities, burnt down houses.

Residents of Umuorobara Okwunakuwa Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area and Umuohuo Mpam in Ekwereazu in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State have deserted their homes following the setting ablaze of houses in the areas by operatives of security outfit known to be ‘Ebubeagu’.

The invasion comes days after a similar invasion of five communities in Ahiazu Mbaise led to the burning of 15 houses.

The incident which happened on Tuesday 15th February 2022 saw a lot of villagers injured in the course of trying to run away for their lives.

Villagers said the Ebubeagu security outfit led the JTF to the communities for the destruction, adding that most people in that area could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.

When contacted the Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer CSP Michael Abraham, denied knowledge of the incident.

He promised to carry out an investigation to actually ascertain what has happened. Meanwhile, a group under the auspices of the Federation of Mbaise Media Professionals has condemned in strong terms the destruction of houses, properties in Umuonyeoka Ihitteafoukwu and Okponkume communities in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State by Ebubeagu personnel.

The FMMP said that a joint security operative military, police and Ebubeagu in their large numbers on Saturday, February 12, 2022, invaded the two communities in search of suspected members of Eastern Security Network (ESN) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In a statement that issued in Owerri Wednesday and endorsed by their Chairman, Comrade Eze Adiukwu and Secretary, Augustine Agwulonu said that the security operatives had invaded the two communities to arrest an alleged ESN member, Mr Uche Madu adding that when they could not arrest the said suspect, they went straight to set ablaze the house of his siblings, Mr Sonnyval and Uche Madu.

According to them, the security operatives also went to apprehend one Mr Ekene popularly known as Ekeson and equally set his family house ablaze.

The group condemns in strong very term this gestapo style of invasion and destruction of properties by Ebubeagu in Imo State, describing it as an occurrence that has been on the rise.