By FELIX UKAH, Abakaliki

Tension is high in the Southern axis of Ebonyi state as a man in Ekoli Edda community, Afikpo South local government area of the state, Ndukwe Okoroafor and his wife Paulina Ndukwe have been murdered by warlords.

Five persons from the area, Esther Ikwo, Elizabeth Ikwo, Chinechere Nnachi, Ogbonna Aku and Sunday Ogbuu Ama were abducted by the warlords who invaded the area.

The corpses of the deceased were taken away by the warlords after killing the husband and wife.

The couple were killed in Erei plam plantation located at the boundary between Ekoli Edda and Biase local government area of Cross River state.

The people of Ekoli Edda and Biase have been at war over a palm plantation in the boundary between the two local governments.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah who confirmed the killing of the couple and abduction of the five persons in Ekoli Edda said preliminary investigation revealed that the attack was as result of resurgence of the longstanding communal feud between the people of the two local governments.

“On 30/06/2020 at about 4pm the DPO Afikpo South received a distress call that gunmen from Biase LGA of Cross River State attacked some persons at Erei Palm Plantation located at the boundary between Ekoli Edda in Afikpo South L.G.A of Ebonyi State and Biase LGA of Cross River State.

“Following the report, the DPO quickly contacted the youth leader of Ekoli Edda who also informed him that an eye witness to the alleged attack One Kalu Ndukwe narrowly escaped with bullet wounds but saw his father One Ndukwe Okoroafor ‘m’ aged about 55yrs and his mother one Paulina Ndukwe ‘f’ aged about 49yrs been slaughtered by the attackers, that the gunmen also abducted five (5) others who includes; One Esther Ikwo ‘f’, One Elizabeth Ikwo ‘f’, One Chinechere Nnachi ‘f’ One

Ogbonna Aku ‘f’ and One Sunday Ogbuu Ama ‘m’.

“The victims were said to have been taken to unknown destination together with the corpse of Mr. and Mrs. Ndukwe Okoroafor. The Commissioner of Police while condemning such hideous and barbaric act had dispatched a combine team of Policemen and soldiers to the Area with a view to rescue the Abducted persons unhurt and arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

“Furthermore, the CP has enjoined residents of the Area especially the youths, to maintain peace, avoid taking the law into their hands or acting in ways that could jeopardize the investigation into the matter. He has also made it clear that the Command under his watch will leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits of the heinous crime to book,” she said. (Daily Independent)

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