10 injured as suspected political thugs attack villagers in Ebonyi
No fewer than 10 people were injured in Ndiche Umuomara village, Ndiagu Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State after an attack by suspected political thugs in a crisis that
No fewer than 10 people were injured in Ndiche Umuomara village, Ndiagu Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State after an attack by suspected political thugs in a crisis that erupted in the area
The victims, among who were Nze Ukwa Nwankwo, Oduge Joseph, Ucha lgwe, Ukwa Simon and Ejike Nwanchonu and others who received varying degrees of injuries during the incident, are receiving treatment in various hospitals in the state.
Nwankwo, who at press time was receiving treatment at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), said he was preparing to attend a meeting convened by the traditional ruler of the community when noticed people scampering for safety.
He said: "Before I could notice, a group of persons had surrounded me and descended on me immediately.
“They attacked me with all manner of weapons and inflicted injuries on me. You can see that one of my eyes is badly affected, I can't see with it.
"The thugs made away with the N120,000 in my pocket, phone and other items. They came with soldiers who supervised the attack on us.
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"So many people were seriously injured during the attack. Some were tied hands back," he said.
Nwankwo said there was no problem in the community to have warranted the attack. He, however, suspected that an attempt by some persons to remove the village head might have been responsible for it.
The victims of the attack have petitioned the state police command to investigate and bring the brains behind it to book.
In a petition written to the state Commissioner of Police, Uche-Adaku Anya, by their Lawyer, U. C. Igba, dated February 18, 2026, he alleged that some soldiers, in conspiracy with some hoodlums whom the victims could identify, invaded and attacked them.
He further alleged that the attackers dispossessed the victims of their property and cash while causing a breach of the community's peace.
Igba said: "It is our information that these hoodlums armed themselves with dangerous weapons to wit: small guns, axes, locally made guns and other lethal weapons to attack the members of the village.
"It is our information that the said hoodlums conspired with some soldiers led by the head of the Army in lkwo and invaded our clients' village and had many beaten to stupor, robbed many, burgled residential apartments, attempted to kill many while the soldiers stood as a cover in the midst of the attack on law abiding members of our clients' village.
"It is our information that the following persons were gravely attacked by the hoodlums in tacit support and protection of the said soldiers: Nze Ukwa Nwankwo, Oduge Joseph, Ucha lgwe, Ukwa Simon and Ejike Nwanchonu of Ndiche Umuomara village, Ndiagu Amagu Ikwo.
"The aforesaid persons are currently hospitalised in different hospitals and clinics owing to the degrees of injuries they sustained as a result of the unprovoked attack by the hoodlums who were backed by the said soldiers.
"It is our information that the aforementioned victims were attacked in the very before of the hired soldiers, had their hands tied to their back while being brutally beaten by the hoodlums.
“We were informed that the soldiers watched with ease and derided the victims as they prevented them from escaping from their attackers.
"The victims were later handed over to the soldiers who cunningly dropped them off along the way without investigation or handing them over to the police.
"More to our information is that after the attack, arrest and tying of the victims, the said soldiers deserted the scene and the hoodlums went haywire destroying the property of our clients and other victims of the said attack.
"The hoodlums robbed our clients of five motorbike and destroyed houses belonging to persons from our clients' village.
"The hoodlums are currently chasing people out of our clients' village and damaging their property. The said assailants are also making (sic) conducts likely to breach the existing peace in our clients' village.
"The said miscreants wield all manner of arms and iron rods which they use in attacking people in the village. Some of these hoodlums are from our clients' village.
"Our clients fear that the conduct of the said suspects is capable of causing deep crisis in their village if left unchecked by the law enforcement agents.
"Sir, our clients have suffered untold psychological, physical, economic and financial hardship owing to the criminal conduct of the said hoodlums.
"The crime of attempted murder, malicious damage to property and unlawful possession of arms are grievous ones that demand quick intervention and discreet investigation by your office.
"We therefore pray you sir to have our allegations discreetly investigated with a view to bringing the culprits to book," the lawyer wrote.
