The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter has raised the alarm over indiscriminate arrest of their members and stakeholders in Akaeze, Ivo LGA of the State following the violent protest that occurred in the community.
The State chairman of the party in the State, Mr. Tochukwu Okorie in a statement in Abakaliki disassociated itself from the protest as well as the killings and carnage following the poor handling of the protest in Akaeze community.
Recall that youths of Akaeze community, Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State, went on rampage on Sunday, took to the streets to protest the alleged murder of their colleague by Ebubeagu security outfit and started destroying properties in the community including the house belonging to the council chairman of Ivo LGA, Mr. Onyebuchi Ogbadu, and set other valuable properties worth millions of naira on fire.
The party however condemned
unequivocally and in totality any acts of violence and carnage said to have arisen from the mismanagement by the authorities of the otherwise peaceful protest.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the hounding and indiscriminate arrest of PDP members and stakeholders in Akaeze, Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State on the prompting of Onyebuchi Ogbadu, Council Chairman of Ivo LGA following the mass protest that occurred in Akaeze on Sunday”.
“The People’s Democratic Party Ebonyi State chapter condemned unequivocally and in totality any acts of violence and carnage said to have arisen from the mismanagement by the authorities of the otherwise peaceful protest. As a political party we wish, however, to state as follows.
“The PDP Ebonyi chapter dissociated itself from the protest as well as the killings and carnage following the poor handling of the protest in Akaeze community”
“The protest apparently erupted as a result of a viral internet video showing the gruesome murder of an Akaeze man identified as Mr. Nnaogo Akpoke Anyim by persons identified and said to be operatives of the Ebubeagu militia also from same Akaeze”
“The murder of the said Mr. Nnaogo is as unconscionable as it is barbaric and is hereby condemned in the strongest terms”
“The protest might have been averted had the Ebonyi State government, the Ebonyi police command and other security agencies lived up to their responsibilities individually and severally by acting proactively in arresting and prosecuting the killers of Mr. Nnaogo”
“The state government demonstrated gross insensitivity when it failed to condemn or act on the wicked and brutal murder of Mr. Nnaogo as seen on the viral video”
“The governor’s condemnation of the killing of Mr. Nnaogo only after the people had taken to the streets, which resulted in breakdown of law and order, is insincere, an afterthought and a proof that the governor cares very little about the lives of Ebonyi people”
“The determination of the Ebonyi State government to keep its militia called Ebubeagu for use in prosecuting mayhem before and during elections, especially the 2023 general elections, is fuelling insecurity and destabilising the polity”
“The Ebubeagu militia continues to constitute a menace to the peace and security of the good people of Ebonyi State with uncountable cases of extrajudicial killings, torture and gross abuse of human rights.
Among such cases were the killing of one Mr. Ele in Akpoha, Afikpo North LGA over the damage of the side mirror of a motorcycle, the killing in Edda, Afikpo South, the abduction and torture of Engr. Solomon Ukpai in Agba, Ishielu LGA, abduction and brutalisation of PDP State Publicity Secretary, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, the abduction and torture of one Methuselah Anyigor. The list is endless”.
“Consequent on the killings, flagrant human rights abuses by the Ebubeagu militia and the cloud of palpable fear now pervading the state as a result, the PDP Ebonyi State chapter now reiterated its call for the immediate disbandment of the Ebubeagu militia”.
“The Nigerian Police in Ebonyi under Police Commissioner, Aliyu Garba is compromised and is now rendered incapable of protecting lives and property of Ebonyi people. CP Garba should immediately retrace his steps and begin to act in the interest of the generality of Ebonyi people rather than protecting the brutal and tyrannical regime of Governor David Umahi”
“We call on the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of Mr. Nnaogo with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice
A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
Ebonyi State government must stop driving the state on the edge of the precipice “the statement stated.
