About Five persons from Itim-Amagu in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state were on Thursday allegedly killed and beheaded by Adadama people of Cross River state in a renewed boundary clash, while three persons have been declared missing.
Reports state that the conflict has claimed over hundreds of lives and property destroyed in Ebonyi state, meanwhile, beheaded bodies of the victims have been recovered .
Confirming the incident, the local government chairman of Ikwo, Mr John Nnabo said he was called on Thursday morning by his Vice chairman over the incident.
Also, five policemen were arrested and currently undergoing orderly room trials for aiding the escape of a murder suspect, one Ogonna
Alioka aka “Pilot” and other suspects of various offences from the police Cell in the state command.
Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, the Commissioner of Police, CP Titus Lamorde noted that the deceased was kidnapped in her home on January 18, 2017 in her home at Egba Amanye community in Ivo LGA of Ebonyi state and was murdered and buried in a shallow grave at Lopkpanta forest in Abia state.
The commissioner said: “after his arrest, Ogonna was helping the police to arrest the two other gang members but unfortunately, on the
night of October 22, policemen of the state CIID on Cell/Counter duty negligently allowed the escape of kidnap suspect, Ogonna Alioka and three other suspects of various offences”.
He added: ” all the policemen on Counter duty on day were arrested, detained, defaulted and tried in an orderly room “.
The council chairman noted that the victims had gone to the area to uproot their cassava and other food crops because it had been long any sound of gunshots were heard or any sign of danger in the area, only to be surrounded by the warlords of Adadama and unleashed mayhem on them.
Nnabo pointed out that the problem has persisted because the Adadama people would always cross the river boundary to the side of Ebonyi state to humiliate them.
He said: “it is true. I was called on Thursday morning by my Vice chairman. Five women were killed and beheaded. We have recovered their corpses. Three persons are still missing. Our people went to uproot their cassava and other crops thinking that the war has subsided
without gunshots for a long time”.
“As they were in the farm, the Adadama people surrounded them, killed and beheaded them. They will always cross the river to humiliate us”.
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