Murderous gunmen have killed at least 50 persons in Izombe, Oguta, Imo State and burnt down over 170 buildings in the last 2 weeks, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) Worldwide has alleged.
OYC adds that Izombe and other neighbouring Ogbaku, Awa, Akabuo, Mgbele, Agwa and Ejemkwuru have been recording incessant security challenges due to the nefarious activities of miscreants known as “UMUOMA”.
The OYC noted that the State Government’s inability to stem the activities of the bandits coupled with operations of military personnel, police and Imo State owned security network called “Ebube-Agu” which the group said has resulted to more casualties and deaths in the communities.
During a press briefing in Owerri,
the National President Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka and Secretary General, Comrade Ifeanyi Nweke stated that rather than assist in promoting peace and tranquility, the security operatives and Ebube-Agu had become aggressive to the residents of the areas particularly, Izombe.
The youths said many persons have been killed while several houses have been torched in the battle between the miscreants and security agents.
“Some of the identified people killed at Amakpurudere Village alone included Benjamin Nwadirigbo, Nwabu Onuigbo (aka Danvata), Obieze Ajaere, Izuka Izuaghanwa and Chike Izuaghanwa.
“Witnesses in the community narrated that others were equally killed in other villages of Izombe like Ndiawa, Ndioko, Orsu and Ugbele and Agwa, a neighbouring Community to Izombe.
“The combined team of police, Ebube-Agu and the military had equally destroyed more than 170 buildings in various villages including over 45 houses in Amakpurudere Village alone.
“Since Wednesday June 7, and Monday June 12, 2023 thousands of people flew from Izumbe that the careless security operatives killed Benjamin and four others,” they said.
Those whose houses have been burnt in Amakpurudere Village include Emmanuel Chukwudoruo, Romanus Obiagwu, Philip Okoronkwo, Ifeanyi Umezuruike, Canice Ogbonna, Herbert Nwoke, late Lucky Nwoke, Lambart Ekejiuba, Simeon Ekejiuba, Sabastine Okereke, Emeka Awaeze and Dominic Iwuanyanwu.
“Others whose houses were affected are: Benjamin Ohanyirim, Jerome Ohanyirim, Late Marcelinus Ogbonna, Lawrence Ogbonna, Calistus Ononiwu, Chief Alex Madubuko, Chief Oliver Ihejirika, Anthony Ihejirika, Alphonsius Ogbonna among others.
“Oguta people are suffering and dying. The people are going through excruciating humanitarian crisis and this is very unimaginable.
“Many people can no longer feed, many no longer have their houses while hundreds had gone on exile looking for shelters and foods in other communities,” they alleged.
