Crimes

Umahi orders arrest of Ebonyi APC chair, Reps candidate over communal crisis

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has ordered the arrest of the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, and a party chieftain, Eni Chima, over a communal crisis.

There was a supremacy battle between supporters of Okoro-Emegha and Chima, the House of Representatives candidate for Afikpo North/South Federal Constituency at Ekoli -Edda, Afikpo South LGA, on Monday, December 26.

The battle led to the death of three persons and destruction of property worth millions of naira, including Okoro-Emegha’s house.

The order of the arrest was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the governor’s Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko.

Governor Umahi, who expressed dismay at the incident during an assessment tour of the area to determine the level of damages, directed the state Commissioner of Police to arrest all those connected with the carnage and ensure they face justice.

The governor also announced the suspension of all social gatherings in Edda until normalcy returns.

He equally urged the Commissioner of Police to deploy security operatives to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

The governor’s aide, however, noted that the entire Ekoli-Edda has been cordoned off by a combined team of the Police, Army, and the Ebubeagu security outfit.

The Star