Seven killed, houses, cars burnt in Ebonyi

Not less than seven persons, including a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ishielu Local Government Area, Mr. Mike Nworie, were killed in chain of violence that trailed the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Ebonyi State on Saturday.

Nworie, who was also a former chairman of Inyaba Development Centre, was hacked down by political thugs in Ishielu council, while six other young men were killed in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.

“The former PDP chairman was killed while he was receiving a call bordering on the elections. His killers were obviously trailing him and when the right opportunity struck, they hacked him with multiple numbers of weapons and ensured he was dead before leaving the scene,” an eyewitness told our correspondent.

The eyewitness, who is a pastor of one of the known Pentecostal churches, begged not to be mentioned.

In Okposi town, Ohaozara Local Government Area, political thugs allegedly working for the ruling party and led by a perceived gangster, called ‘Chopper’, attacked the Labour Party and All Progressives Congress agents at different polling units.

The political thugs who were said to have ridden with a team of ‘soldiers’ in a Hillux van, marked with bold ‘Army’ inscription, allegedly bundled five polling unit agents at PU 007, Mgbom Okposi; PU 007, Achara ward; and the polling unit at Enechi Akuma Primary School, Okposi Okwu ward.

“Voters in those polling units, scampered away from the polling units leaving the area deserted and the exercise suspended,” a concerned citizen stated in a text message to our correspondent.

In Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area, police officers and officials of the State Security Service were said to have been detained in a private facility on the orders of a high-ranking official of the Federal Government from the area.

In Ohaukwu and Ikwo councils, some hoodlums allegedly snatched money meant for polling agents while several persons were left with broken limbs at Ndiagara.

“I was reliably informed of the money snatching incident,” a former governor of the state, Dr. Sam Egwu, said.

Ikwo Local Government Area, where Governor Martin Elechi hails from, was a no-go area as heavy shooting commenced as early as 8am, while there were several cases of snatching of election materials.