By CHARLES IWUOHA

As the long awaited 2023 general elections draw near, the youth wing of the apex socio-cultural organization of Ndigbo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC), has called on the federal government to disband the Ebubeagu security outfit in Ebonyi State because of its alleged bloody operations.

OYC made the call following the incessant brutal killing of innocent residents of Ebonyi State, lamenting that if nothing was not done to disband the security outfit, the state would experience inexplicable bloodbath that would be perpetrated by the trigger-happy Ebubeagu operatives.

National President of OYC, Comrade lgboayaka O. Igboayaka, in a statement on Friday, Feruary 10, 2023, described Ebubeagu as a militia group of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi.

Igboayaka wailed that the reports he gathered from both the state and local government executive council of OYC in Ebonyi State, proved that Governor David Umahi has turned Ebubeagu to “his personal killer Squad.”

The statement readS in part: "Ohanaeze Youth observed that around January/February 2022, over 20 youth were killed at Akaeze and their corpses were dumped at Ivo River, in Ivo local government area. Unfortunately for the killer Ebubeagu Squad ran out of luck when they killed another youth within the period identified as Mr. Nnaogo Ajali, from Amarameze Umobor Akaeze in Ivo local government. They killed the poor young man with a hammer, tortured him through his penis.

“In another horrific incident, Ebubeagu killed one Comrade Onyekachi Okor(aka Elueke) from Umuoji Umobor Akaeze whom they also butchered and cut off his private part.

“Over 30 youths from Akaeze who dared to protest the intimidating act and murderous actions of Ebubeagu militia group were arrested and dumped at Ebonyi State prison on the order of Governor David Umahi.

“These are typical evidences that democratic government has fled Ebonyi State, and has been replaced with the tyrannical government of David Umahi.

Continuing, the statement added that More than 70 Akaeze youths have fled out of their land due to incessant killings and arrest by Ebubeagu Militias squad of the incumbent Governor.

“The tyrannical rulership of Govenor David Umahi has made many villages in Ebonyi a ghost village. It would be recalled also that during the December of 2022 village football tournament which extended to January 3, 2023, at Iyioji Secondary School, Akaeze, Ivo local government, Ebubeagu stormed the field, shooting sporadically, although no life was lost but over 20 youths were arrested, all master-minded by one Hon. Onyebuchi Agbadu, an APC House of Assembly Candidate for Ivo Constituency whose services, Gov Umahi deployed in perpetuating his evil agenda in Ebonyi State.

"Earlier, around March 2, 2022, the National Youth President of Akaeze Youth Forum, Mr. Sunday Ajaero, a vocal youth leader, was kidnapped from Onicha by a team led by Onyebuchi Agbadu and his brother, Emmanuel Agbadu, still on the instruction of Governor David Umahi.

“Ebube Agu militia squad in Ebonyi State is now a terror to villagers and a tool of harassment, torture and intimidation against any perceived political enemy of Governor David Umahi.

“The activities of Ebubeagu is becoming too worrisome and unbearable. For instance, we gathered that on 8 February, 2023, at Ohaozara, about six people were shot, one youth was shot on the chest, with a teenager, one pregnant woman and one military personnel received a gunshot from Ebubeagu Militia. Those who ran for their lives during the shooting were pursued by Ebubeagu into Mr. Ogbonnaya Eleodi's compound (opposite secretariat) and many people were injured whereas not fewer than eight vehicles were destroyed by Ebubeagu squad.”

Lgboayaka, therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police( IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and other heads of security agencies to act fast and prevent the looming bloodbath that might result during the elections, stating that the said security outfit was merely set up to serve the interest of the Governor David Umahi.

“The National Security Adviser (NSA), Director-General of State Security Service, Inspector General of Police must, as a matter of urgency, understand that Ebubeagu in Ebonyi State is merely serving the interest of Gov. David Umahi, and it's a time bomb waiting to go off, an incident that will interrupt national peace and a direct security threat to the nation.

“It is, therefore, very necessary at this time to ban Abubeagu Militia in Ebonyi State before 2023 general elections, otherwise heads will roll in Ebonyi,” the OYC leader said.

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