Gunmen on Friday night killed two operatives of the Ebubeagu Security Outfit in Ebonyi while on duty. Daily Trust learnt that the incident happened at the popular Ebebe Junction where operatives of Ebubeagu always mount their stop-and-search operations.
A resident in the area identified as Mr Emeke Ikechukwu told our correspondent on Saturday morning that the gunmen were armed with AK 47. Ikechukwu further stressed that the incident took place around 7 pm on Friday.
He said, “Yes, there was an attack at Ebebe Junction that was about 7 pm on Friday. The gunmen arrived at the area with bikes and told some persons who saw them earlier not to panic and that they are there not because of them before they started firing at members of Ebubeagu Operatives on duty.
“However, one of the Ebubeagu members died on the spot while many others who sustained bullet wounds were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Also, the gunmen were armed with AK-47s,” he explained.
A reliable source working at the emergency ward of the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki who doesn’t want his name on print, told Daily Trust that two of the victims brought to the hospital have been confirmed dead. The source said that they died as a result of bullet injuries they sustained.
“2 of the victims that were brought in yesterday’s night from the Ebebe junction incident at about 7:30 pm have died. They died as a result of bullet injuries they sustained while 4 others injured are receiving treatment at the hospital”, the source added.
Ebebe Junction has recently become a soft target for Members of Ebubeagu Security Outfit by gunmen. Daily Trust learnt that not less than 8 members of the outfit have been killed in less than 6 months at that axis.
When contacted, the consultant to Governor David Umahi on Internal Security, Hon. Stanley Emegha confirmed the incident. He further condoled the families of the deceased.
He however vowed that the state government would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
“Yes, it happened and we are not going to take it lightly this time around. So we have commerce investigation and our target is to bring the perpetrators to book,” he noted.