Gunmen have killed two persons in Agba Community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s South-east.
The incident happened on Sunday when the gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, invaded the community.
Chukwu Nwadibia, the president-general of the community, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Mr Nwadibia identified the victims as a school proprietor, Sunday Oyibe, and the Chairperson of Timber Dealers Association in Ishielu, Chukwu Ebuka.
Mr Nwadibia said the community had suffered repeated attacks by armed hoodlums over the past year, resulting in several deaths and loss of valuables worth millions of Naira.
He said two months ago, the attackers had robbed a POS operator of N2.7 million and
kidnapped a man from the community’s market.
The president-general stressed that the hoodlums often operate at night wearing military camouflage and bulletproof vests, giving residents the impression they are security operatives.
“In previous attacks, they snatched a Toyota Corolla car and five motorcycles from residents,” he recalled.
Mr Nwadibia narrated how the latest attack happened.
“I was in my office when people started running, saying armed robbers were at our junction. Everyone began looking for safety.
“I locked my office when I saw what was happening. They advanced to another junction near my house, Orie Agba, and began shooting sporadically,” he narrated.
He continued: “They shot Sunday Oyibe, founder of Unique International School and Chairman of the timber association (in Ishielu).
“We rushed him to the hospital, but he didn’t survive. They also shot Chukwu Ebuka, who witnesses said was struggling to protect his iPhone.”
‘Businesses have crumbled’
Mr Nwadibia also recalled that, during a similar attack in January 2024, some gunmen had riddled his home with bullets but did not kill any of his family members.
The community leader lamented that the frequent attacks had been affecting businesses in the area.
“These attackers always mask their faces and wear military uniforms with bulletproof vests. Since they started, our people no longer move freely at night.
“Businesses have crumbled. Once it’s dark, the entire community goes silent,” he lamented.
Police speak
When contacted on Sunday, police spokesperson in Ebonyi State Joshua Ukandu confirmed the attack and the killing of the two persons.
Mr Ukandu, a superintendent of police, however, said he would get details of the incident from the divisional police officer (DPO) in charge of the area in Ishielu.
“Yes, I am aware something happened in Ishielu, but I will contact the DPO for full details,” he said.
When contacted on Sunday, the Chairperson of Ishielu Local Government Area, Esther Agwu, declined to speak on the matter.
Increased attacks
Like other states in Nigeria’s South-east, security has deteriorated in Ebonyi State with frequent attacks by armed persons.
The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.
Hundreds of persons have been killed or abducted and several others injured in some of such attacks in the region.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region.
But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.
IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south.
