By CHARLES IWUOHA

No fewer than seven persons were reportedly killed recently in the renewed communal clashes between Ishinkwo/Abaomege in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

This is as the Ebonyi State Police command confirmed the arrest of some persons suspected to have hands in the renewed communal clashes.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP. Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who spoke with newsmen in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State on Friday, said the command deployed patrol team to the two communities of Oshinkwo/Abaomege to maintain peace and order.

Investigation revealed that the communal clashes that existed between the two communities escalated a few days ago, and resulted to the killing of some persons in the area.

An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the alleged renewed clashes resulted to the killing of seven (7) persons, who are suspected to be Abaomege indigenes.

According to him, “The communal clash is still on; the other day, I reached Akpoha Bridge to buy fish, but the boys are angry.”

On whether the state government is calming down the situation in that area, he said: “I’m just coming out from the local government headquarters. There are serious attacks in that area.”

But, the police command denied the reported killing.

The PPRO said: “I called our police division there and it was a lie. There was no information of any killings there.

“Concerning on what the command is doing to curb the clashes, we are on top of the situation and some arrests have been made.”

“The said killings were not reported. If it happened, it was never reported,” she stressed.

In a swift reaction, the commissioner for internal security, Ebonyi State, Chief Etta Uka also stated that the reported killing was fake news.

“We don’t have such information and it is a lie. Police have been patrolling the State to make sure that all parts of the state are calm,” he stated.

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