Following the renewal of communal crisis between Enyibuchiri in Izzi and Ndiagu Alike in Ikwo local government Area on Saturday, no fewer than eight persons have reportedly lost their lives including a baby.
According to the Police Public Relation Officer ASP Loveth Odah, five out of the Eight were one family that had attended their son Matriculation at Ebonyi State University that same Saturday before meeting their untimely death on their way back home.
According to the police spokesperson, three others were shot at the market were the warriors opened fire, while many were left with bullet injuries.
According to her, “It is a longstanding dispute between Ndiagu Alike Ikwo and Enyibichiri community in Abakaliki that erupted the other day.
“A vehicle was seen burning on the road, allegedly set ablaze by warriors from one of the communities.
“The victims were coming from Abakaliki where they attended matriculation of their son. There was a sporadic shooting which allegedly hit the fuel tank of the vehicle, on their attempt to escape, they fell into drainage by the roadside. Five of them were from the same family including a little baby and one is a neighbour who joined them and they all burnt to ashes.
“Also, three other persons were attacked and two of them were killed. One of them, a woman was the wife of a police officer deployed to Borno state”. She said.
Further investigation revealed that the people of Alike Community allegedly stormed one popular Nwedda market early Saturday morning and laid surveillance until the market was filled to the brim.
It was learnt that immediately the market got busy that the alleged youth started shooting sporadically which led to the killing of two traders whose one of them is a police officer’s wife and the other identity, yet to be ascertained.
Our correspondent also learnt that the shooting disrupted the day market, as everybody was scampering for safety, whereas, the enraged youth of Enyigba of the same community went back and reinforced.
However, the enraged enyigba youth who embarked on revenge mission allegedly block a bus heading to Alike with an inscription “Ikwo youth” and unleash mayhem by setting the bus ablaze.