Ebonyi state Police Command Sunday confirmed the killing of three persons by gunmen at Akpoha community, Afikpo local government area of the state.
The deceased Emmanuel Nwacha Egwu, Nicholas Nwacha and Inya Blessing Orieona were said to have been shut dead at Akpoha junction by unknown gunmen who attacked the community at around 8pm on Saturday.
The gunmen according to an eyewitness, Donatus Uche, entered the community with two motorcycles and was shooting sporadically.
He noted that the bullets from the heavy gunshots were falling on the roof of his house which made him to run away from home.
Uche further disclosed that one of the persons killed 3 was a member of the defunct Ebubeagu Security Network now known as Neighborhood watch.
He said, “Our community was attacked on Saturday night. Three persons are lying dead as I speak to you.
“One of the three victims is a member of Ebubeagu Security Network. He has up to 10 bullets in his body.
“The gunmen came with two motorcycles. When they were leaving, one of the motorcycles refused to start and they continued shooting heavily until it started and they left.
“These are the three persons that were killed after a heavy shooting at AkpohaIgbo by gunmen who came to execute this mayhem with two motorcycles.
“Their names are; Emmanuel Nwacha Egwu, Nicholas Nwacha and Inya Blessing Orieona. Killings in Akpoha have become regular occurrence and nothing has been done to stop it. We are in trouble,” he said.
Uche who is the Youth President of Akpoha community, said Emmanuel Nwacha is the leader of Neighbourhood Security Watch in the area and Chief Security Officer of the company handling construction of a new bridge by the federal government in the community.
He disclosed that many bullets were picked by policemen in the community who evacuated the bodies of the deceased.
Coordinator of Akpoha Development Centre, Kenneth Orji Obasi, who confirmed the incident said bodies of the victims have been deposited in the morgue.
He noted that received a call that gunmen were shooting heavily on Akpoha Junction around 8pm on Saturday and he sent some members of the Neighborhood Security Watch to the scene.
“On getting to the scene, I saw three persons lying dead on the ground. I have taken their corpses to the mortuary while the incident has been reported to the police,” Obasi said.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu said, “Three persons were killed and the command has launched an investigation into the incident, manhunt of the gunmen under way”.
