The Ekoli Edda community in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has petitioned President Bola Tinubu about the plight of the members of the community, allegedly inflicted on them by a terror group operating in a forest in the area.

The community has therefore called for President Tinubu’s urgent intervention to arrest the situation and save them from imminent death.The community accused one Uduma Chima of gun-running, bloodbath, the use of a killer squad to unleash terror on them as well as decimating their time-honoured traditional institution, alleging that Chima arrogated to himself the sole right and prerogative of determining who heads all organs of local administration in the community.

The Ekoli Edda community in the petition titled: GUN-RUNNING, TERRORISM AND BLOODSHED IN EKOLI EDDA: AN UNWHOLESOME ACT BEING PERPETRATED BY MR. ENI UDUMA CHIMA, THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF EDDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AND HIS ACCOMPLICES - THE MOREKANBEDONE KILLER SQUAD, dated March 18, 2024 and addressed to President Tinubu on their behalf by their lawyers, of the Ogban, Ebenezer & CO and Counsel for Concerned Citizens & Co., is asking the President to move swiftly into the situation by directing discreet investigation, arrest and prosecution of the aforementioned suspects.

They informed the President that the accused persons have not only caused much bloodshed in Edda but have continued to terrorize and make life unbearable for our clients and the good people of Ekoli Edda.

They wrote: “Ekoli Edda has been under siege and bondage since 2007 when one, Chima took over the reins of power following his election and ascension as a Member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly. This gave him the impetus to assume control of the Community. As part of his game plan to subdue the community perpetually, he decimated the traditional institution and arrogated to himself the sole right and prerogative of determining who heads all organs of local administration in the community. It is in this regard that he also installed one, Elder Oji Ufiem Okoro as the Traditional Ruler of Ekoli Edda and used him negatively to make life unbearable for the people of the community. He also unilaterally planted, albeit, illegally successive leadership of the Town Development Union and other local institutions”.

“It is on account of this dire prevailing atmosphere of insecurities in our clients said Edda clan vis-a-vis the criminal activities of the said Bar. Chima that our clients have specifically instructed us to most passionately appeal to you, Mr. President, to use your good offices to cause the relevant security agencies to sustain their activities in communities in Edda, particularly by flushing out the said criminals at their hideouts at Aliugbogho Farm Settlement and the mop-up operation of the arms and ammunition, now in the hands of the notorious gang.

“This will nip at the bud the scenerios like the types that had played themselves in the famous Gana and Akwaza in Benue State or currently in Delta State where our gallant military officers where gruesomely murdered while on peace mission, the petition read.

The community insists, “the rebels terrorizing Ekoli Edda and its environs, fled to Aliugbogho forest where they are currently taking refuge.

“Unfortunately, they have continued to operate as bandits in the forest thereby making it difficult for farmers to go to their farm.

“And there is serious suspicion at the moment that these criminal elements now operate as a cell of IPOB/ESN. For instance, three members of the community namely: Okechi Oji, Agha Ozi and Udu Anya Okoro nearly lost their lives when they were recently ambushed in their farms by the said bandits.

Furthermore, they alleged that the said suspect Chima has continued to maintain contact with the said gang in the forest by supplying them with foods and medicals, without compelling them to surrender the remaining weapons at their disposal.