Since political activities revved up late last year with the Ebonyi State government under the leadership of Engr. David Umahi literally holding most political opposition elements on the jogular, the people of Onicha-Igboeze community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has always proven that they are not the common specie of humans given to fears, succumbing to intimidations, threats or even physical assaults not matter the position and disposition of the instigators.
From the resistance of a ploy by the State leadership of the APC in Ebonyi State to coerce the Party’s Ward Chairman in the area into signing a document suspending Umahi’s arch rival in the battle for Ebonyi South APC Senatorial ticket, Princess Ann Agom Eze from the Party to the protests by women and youths groups during the October 16th 2022 abduction and torture of a two term House of Representatives member, Rt. Hon. Linus Okorie, Onicha-Igboeze by Ebubeagu officials, Onicha community has proven itself a tough nut to crack when it comes to oppression of their own by anyone or in whichever form.
Incidentally, the Chairman of the LGA, one Obasi Chidiebere a.k.a Obosi who has been allegedly fingered in the spate of violence and incessant attacks on opposition forces in the area happens to have hailed from the same Onicha Igboeze.
Recall that the said Obosi being one of the lackeys Umahi ‘imposed’ on the Local Government system in Ebonyi during the LGA election even against Court’s decisions had made some outrageous Radio announcements banning any form of gathering by the opposition. Even annual football tournaments was affected by the new ‘decree’ but the people of Oshiri community were the first to stoutly dare him and his goons to host their soccer fiesta.
It would be recalled also that opposition leaders and members in both Ohaozara and Onicha Local Government Areas including other LGAs in the State have been facing violent attacks in their localities from the militant Ebubeagu operatives. For instance, Labour Party members, supporters and leaders were on November 14th last year attacked during a meeting at Okposi Court Area by officials of Ebubeagu led by the Chairman of Ohaozara LGA, one Hon. Chinonso Aja popularly known as ‘Consider’.
During the said sad, unprovoked incident, about 14 persons including women and youths who were awaiting the arrival of the Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ohanivo Federal Constituency, Dr. Kama Nkemkanma sustained varying degrees of injuries arising from a stampede as a result of gunshots. An aged woman who jumped down from a two-storey building where the meeting was billed to hold is reportedly still in coma for the past two months.
Other coordinated attacks and violent destruction of billboards belonging to opposition political Parties by the same Ebubeagu militia have been reported in neighbouring Oshiri, Isu, Ugwulangwu and other communities within the area. Till date, there’s no evidence that anyone has been arrested and tried for such wanton political violence and attacks despite several petitions and repeated calls by INEC, the Nigerian Police authorities and well-intentioned Nigerians that Governors and ruling Parties should allow the oppositions in their States some breathing space.
And so it was on Friday, January 13th, 2023 that the youths of Onicha Igboeze community rose in unison to confront and dare some armed Ebubeagu militia who were allegedly sent to disrupt a peaceful rally in the area organized by the Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Rt. Hon. Linus Okorie.
The Ebubeagu militia that attacked and attempted to disrupt the Labour Party Ebonyi Senatorial candidate interaction with the good people of Amanator Ezeukwa of Onicha Igboeze yesterday came in three APC branded sienna buses. They were fully armed with pump action guns, pistols and other dangerous weapons.
A source within the community gave names of the gang leaders as; Sunday Okike Akpa alias (Mputu), Peter Ogbonnaya Aja, alias (Ajasa), Hon. Stanley Nweze, alias (Saka), Uche Simon alias (Uche boy) and Ozichukwu Uneke alias (Zinono).
Others were; Peter Okereke Linus alias (Onwa) and Ogbonnaya Obaji alias (Target).
The squad which also included 9 mercenaries who are said to come from Ogoni that have allegedly been camped by the Onicha LGA Chairman, Chidiebere Agwu (Obosi) and have reportedly been ‘illegally’ integrated into the Ebubeagu system as their alibis.
Despite the brandishing of dangerous weapons like pump action rifles, they were stoutly and successfully resisted by the youths of Amanator Ezeukwa without disrupting the event, which was very successful.
An eyewitness, Maxwell Ogbu who was at the gathering said the youths refused to succumb to the threats and immediately started chorusing “Linus bu iron gate o, anwakwanwa kuya kpem, anwakwanwa o” even as they marched menacingly towards the armed Ebubeagu militia.”
“With boldness, our youths who turned out in their numbers overpowered and overwhelmed them and they took to their heels. Our people are no longer comfortable with the violent attacks on our leaders and their supporters and the State government should now know that our people mean business. All we are asking is that Governor Umahi should allow every party co-exist and hold their political events and rallies”, Ogbu insisted.