Ohanaeze youths allege: Over 50 killed, 170 houses burnt in Imo community

Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) Worldwide has alleged no fewer than 50 persons have been killed and more than 170 buildings set ablaze by gunmen in Izombe, Oguta, Imo State in the last two weeks.

Izombe and other neighbouring communities such as Agwa, Ejemkwuru, Awa, Akabuo, Mgbele and Ogbaku have been recording incessant security challenges due to the nefarious activities of criminal elements with a code name “UMUOMA”.

Ohanaeze Youth Council noted the inability of the State Government to checkmate 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.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri,

National President Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka and Secretary General, Comrade Ifeanyi Nweke,

said rather than help to engender peace and tranquility, the security operatives and Ebube-Agu had turned hostile to the residents of the areas particularly, Izombe. The group said many people have been killed while several houses have been burnt in the battle between the bandits and security operatives.

“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.

They mentioned those whose houses were burnt down in Amakpurudere Village alone to 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. Nation