Ruth Oginyi
Barr. Eni Uduma Chima the 2023 APC house of representatives candidate for Afikpo north and south federal constituency Thursday said the people of Ekoli Edda community in the afikpo South local government area, had no hand in the killing of the wife of the Ebubeagu Commander in the area, Mr. Kalu Chima (aka Oyeoku).
Eni a former Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area describes the murder of the pregnant woman as a wicked act and shocking to him.
The seven-month pregnant Ebubeagu Commander’s wife, Mrs. Urenwa Chima, was shot dead, on Sunday, by hoodlums who also set her husband’s house on fire, at Ama Etiti-Amoso village, Etiti Edda community, in the Afikpo South LGA, at about 2.30 am.
But Eni said he would put in his time, energy, and resources to, together with security agencies unravel the perpetrators of the evil act.
He urged troublemakers to steer clear from their stunts of disunity and name-calling to gain attention from the authorities.
There have been Mixed reactions to the circumstances surrounding the death of the woman on the eve of the new year, with some accusing Eni of being responsible.
But, Eni in his defense argued that neither he nor any member of his Ekoli Edda community had a hand in the incident.
He called on relevant authorities to swing into action to unearth those responsibly and bring them to book.
His words, “The killing of a pregnant woman and wife of the Commander of Ebubeagu Security Operatives in Afikpo South Local Government Area is extremely wicked and condemnable. This barbaric act cannot be excused under any guise, and I shall invest my time, material, and other resources to get to the root of the matter and cause law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.
“While I condemn in the strongest terms these satanic acts, I make bold to state that the general public should not be deceived by the attempts by desperately wicked individuals to divert attention from objective, thorough and diligent investigation. The red herring will not stand and their dubious conclusion cannot endure, for, it will be exposed for what it is- a sham.
“I do not wish to join issues with the S.A. to the Governor of Ebonyi State on Internal Security, Hon. Eze Panchris Ikechukwu, concerning the statement attributed to him to the effect that the atrocities of arson and murder of a pregnant woman were traceable to Barr. Eni Uduma Chima, former Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area, as the sponsor and “those who call themselves Warriors of Edda or Ekoli…”
“Hon. Eze Panchris Ikechukwu may be speaking from an honest but ignorant mindset, especially having no training in crime and investigation. But then, such disposition should not be a license to sell dummies to the public when he has ample room to double-check and find facts.
“Eze may also be speaking from emotions, considering the enormity of the crimes and the fact that the Commander of Ebubeagu whose wife was killed, is his comrade. Also, coming at the heels of the ugly occurrences in Ekoli Edda on 26th December 2022, the temptation to generalize hastily is there, yet, one should be circumspect with words not backed up with corresponding facts.
“I make bold to assert that the arson and killing of a pregnant woman in Amoso Edda have nothing to do with the Ekoli-Edda people, who regrettably violently reacted to the killing of a youth leader- Mr. Eseni Kalu Egwu- in Ekoli Edda. The Amos Edda atrocities also have nothing to do with the supporters and loyalists of Barr. Eni Uduma Chima is currently being harassed all over the place by Ebubeagu Operatives.
“The only thing correct in the stories being sold to the public by Mr. Kalu Chima Ekuma also known as ‘Oyeoku’ (Setter of Fire), who is the Afikpo South Commander of Ebubeagu are the facts that buildings were burnt and someone killed. The rest of the narratives desperately try to link the crimes with those who participated in what happened in Ekoli-Edda and with the supporters of Barr. Eni Uduma Chima is but a fabricated hog-wash that cannot pass even the most superficial scrutiny.
“My connection to the 26th December incident is simply that I am from Ekoli-Edda. The youths are said to be my ‘boys’, whatever that means. As someone who has led the community well as a scholar, businessman, leader of thought, House Member, and Council Chairman, and earned their loyalty and trust, I regard not only the youths but all Ekoli-Edda indigenes as my people. So there you have my men, my women, my girls, and my boys. But then, I never sent anybody to undertake unlawful acts and was never consulted. Take it from Eni Uduma Chima.
“Having said that, I or my supporters cannot be held vicariously liable for any misdemeanor or felony attributable to any adult capable of forming intention or others commissioned by unknown persons.
“Having said that, I will not succumb to any emotional blackmail calculated to tempt me into denying the good people of Ekoli-Edda- men, women, or youths, all of who are loyal and faithful supporters of this Divine Mandate administration. Certainly, I take exception to the overreaction of that sad day and plead with them not to exercise the Mosaic disposition of tit for tat.”
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