Gunmen suspected to be armed kidnappers have struck again, this time killing a member of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi State. Emmanuel Igwe, an assistant electoral officer, was brutally murdered along the Ishiagu axis of the Ishiagu-Mpu Road on Sunday evening while returning from Anambra state. Shockingly, his wife was also abducted by the hoodlums.
Confirming the incident, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the Police Public Relations Officer, revealed that a tactical team from the Command has been dispatched for a manhunt in search of the criminals. It is disconcerting to note that nothing was taken from the vehicle, indicating that the motive behind the attack remains unknown.
Reacting to the incident, some indigenes of Ishiagu community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, who currently reside in Abakaliki, called on the police and other security agencies to address the prevalent security challenges along the Ishiagu-Mpu road. Chief Damian Okoafor, the Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, confirmed the killing of his father in the attack and expressed concern over the activities of suspected herders in the area.
Nicholas Onu, a colleague of the deceased victim at INEC, described the loss as unbearable and appealed for the immediate deployment of a joint police and military security team to curb armed kidnapping, robbery, and other forms of criminality along the road. He further revealed that the abductors are demanding a N10 million ransom for the release of Igwe’s wife.
Dr Innocent Mbazu, a lecturer at the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, who resides in Abakaliki, called for urgent intervention from the police and other security operatives. He expressed his deep concern over the unfortunate incident, which resulted in the murder of a motorist and a farmer in his farm along the Ishiagu axis of the Ishiagu-Mpu road. Mbazu also warned commuters to exercise caution when using the road or avoid it if possible, given the recent increase in criminal activities in that area.
It is distressing that the security situation along the Ishiagu-Mpu road has continued to deteriorate, with innocent lives being lost and families traumatized. It is high time the relevant authorities take swift and decisive action to bring an end to these acts of violence, as the people of Ebonyi State deserve to live in peace and security.
