One killed as youths, Ebubeagu clash in Ebonyi community

At least one person has been confirmed killed in a clash between Ebubeagu Southeast Security Network Ebonyi State chapter and youths in Amasiri community.

Details of the clash were sketchy at the time of filing this report.

However, the State Consultant on Security and Coordinator of Ebubeagu, Stanley Okoro, explained that the youth was killed when the youths of the community engaged the local Ebubeagu in the area in a shootout.

He said: “Ebubeagu went to the area to know what the problem was. The Youths there stopped the quarry from operating. The Council Chairman went there to beg but they refused all her pleadings”

“When Ebubeagu went there, the youths opened fire on them. It was their leader’s bullet that killed one of them”.

After he killed him, he himself took him to the mortuary and thereafter he disappeared but he has been arrested by security agencies.”

But a source in the community disagreed with Emegha’s narration of what transpired.

The source claimed Ebubeagu operatives arrived in five Toyota Sienna vehicles in Amaebor, Ohaechara village square and opened fire on the youth for allegedly sealing off the Lebanese-owned quarry company, Conrock.

The source claimed five persons died as a result of the clash through his calumet could not be independently verified.

The youths, according to a source, had assembled at the square to share a monetary gift given them by the management of Conrock for unsealing the company when the operatives arrived.

The source added that the youths were also deliberating on how to approach invitations hitherto sent to them by the Afikpo Divisional Police Command and the Area Command for sealing the company.

“We were expected to appear before the Area Command and the division on Monday and Tuesday before Ebubeagu people came and started shooting at us for engaging them in an argument. We told them we had reached an agreement with the company and that we had unsealed the company.

“Their management even gave something in appreciation for our peaceful conduct. So we are at a loss as to why Ebubeagu people came and shot some of us. One of those shot died on the way to the hospital while two others died while receiving treatment.”

Another youth, who corroborated the incident, added that one other youth died yesterday morning from gun wound.

He said that “some of those injured were taken by security men from the hospital where they were being attended to Abakaliki the following day.”

He explained that the youths prior to sealing the company accused the management of foot-dragging on the rehabilitation of a four-kilometre road in Amebor and the naming of their Community Liaison Officer.

The source accused some Amasiri political office holders of using their positions to ensure that Amebor was denied the opportunity of producing the CLO.

“We know that the Ebubeagu operatives were invited by the said political officers because they want the CLO to be appointed from another village in Ohaechara instead of Amaebor that the post is zoned to,” the source claimed.

He called on the State Government to investigate the killings, which according to him were unwarranted since the youth had resolved their disagreements with the management of Conrock.

Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, said she does not have details of the incident.

“I spoke to the DPO and he said the matter was reported to Headquarters but I am yet to get the person investigating the matter since it is weekend. If I get any details I will let you know”, she said.

Chairman of the Council, Obiageri Oko Enyim, did not respond to enquiries for comment by The Nation.