• How thugs battered residents, destroyed property in Ezza
• Journalists escape death as APC, PDP trade words
From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
There is palpable fear and anxiety in the Ezza controlled local governments in Ebonyi State following persistent attacks on residents by suspected political thugs. This year alone, the attack has left many residents of the areas injured with property worth millions of naira destroyed. Among the victims was a 40-year-old woman who claimed to have lost her four-month pregnancy in one of the attacks.
Fresh trouble began on August 1, 2026 in Ikwuator Idembia, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state when one Ifeanyi Nworie, organised a rally to formally defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). No fewer than ten persons were injured in the fracas that ensued.
The political event was initially scheduled to take place at a village square in the community, but suspected thugs stormed the venue and disrupted it. Nworie, then decided to relocate the gathering to his private compound in the area. The attackers traced the attendees to the residence and inflicted bodily harm on them.
Members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state who were invited to cover Nworie’s defection, were not spared by the attackers who attempted to set them ablaze inside their branded operational vehicle. The journalists’ vehicle came under attack as it approached the new venue, with the assailants hitting and attempting to force the doors open.
About two weeks earlier, a youth group in Ezza known as the Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly (EEYA) raised concerns over what it described as increasing harassment and intimidation by suspected political thugs in parts of the council area.
Addressing journalists later in Abakaliki after attack on his residence by suspected political thugs, Nworie said he notified the Commissioner of Police in the state, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies before the event to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Despite that precautionary measure, Nworie said the thugs still arrived at the venue in a convoy of between 15 and 20 vehicles.
Aside from assaulting his supporters, Nworie said the attackers also prevented invited guests from accessing the venue and later followed them to his residence after the venue was changed.
He further alleged that vehicles, canopies, chairs and other property in his compound were vandalised, while some motorcycles were taken away. At the time of filing this report, the politician said eight of his supporters who sustained injuries were receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals.
The Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP condemned the incident, describing it as an attack on democracy, journalists and opposition politics. The Ebonyi State chairman of the party, Chukwuma Igwe, alleged that the attackers were agents of the APC-led government in the state.
“The PDP in Ebonyi State will not be intimidated by undemocratic forces irrespective of who is behind them. Every citizen has the constitutional right to freely associate and participate in politics without fear of harassment or intimidation,” Igwe said.
He also urged party members to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite what he described as provocation. But Chairman of APC in the state, Stanley Okoro Emegha, absolved the party of the violence.
“So far as it has to do with APC in Ebonyi State, we watch the body language of our dear governor; he doesn’t want to offend anyone. As such, we must toe his path. The APC will not have a hand in violence because you know very well that if you get yourself into such an act, the governor will abandon you,” Emegha said.
As victims of the Ikwuator Idembia attack were still receiving treatment in the hospitals, another set of political thugs invaded the residence of Chief Christopher Ngwuta, an elder statesman in Amaezekwe community also in Ezza South Local Government Area and attacked leaders and supporters of the PDP who paid him a courtesy visit. In the mayhem, the 40-year-old pregnant wife of the party leader, Blessing was attacked, leading to a miscarriage.
Vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles and other valuable items were destroyed during the incident, which occurred on Thursday August 5, 2026. Victims of the attack were receiving treatment in various hospitals across the state at the time of filing this report.
“I was cooking for my husband’s visitors as they were coming in. We didn’t know that some armed persons had gathered at our gate. When we opened the gate for more visitors who were knocking on it, a group of people armed with guns, machetes, swords, stones, woods and other dangerous weapons, forcefully came in through the gate and started attacking people in the compound. They snatched their belongings including cash, phones, motorcycles and other items.
“One of them hit me from behind and I fell down and hit my stomach on the ground. When I tried to get up, another one pointed a gun at my head and said that they will use me to set an example for others to learn.
“They continued beating me until I became weak before they left. I was immediately rushed to the hospital by my husband because I was bleeding. As a result of the attack, I lost my four months pregnancy and I was just discharged from the hospital last Sunday.”
Chief Ngwuta, expressed sadness over the attack. He said: “It is surprising that my children will invade my home, attack my wife and destroy property belonging to me and my visitors. I call these thugs my children because I knew when their mothers got married to their fathers and I know when they were born.
“I am an old man and a peaceful person. I have the right to belong to any political party of my choice. Nobody can stop me from being a member of a party that I have chosen to belong to, nobody!
“This is very shameful. They should go and see what is happening in Izzi. Ojimba the candidate of APGA is shaking the entire Izzi and Ebonyi North where he is contesting senatorial election and nothing is happening to him. Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi is contesting under APC in the same Izzi clan and Ebonyi North zone. Dr. Sunday Opoke is also contesting under the PDP in the zone and he is also an Izzi man.
“In the central, Goodluck Chidiebere Egwu is contesting for the House of Representatives under PDP with Hon. Chinedu Ogah and nothing is happening to Chidiebere Egwu and he is from the same Ikwo with Chinedu Ogah.
“In Ebonyi South zone, Maria Ude Nwachi, Linus Okorie, Professor Anthony Ani, Felix Igboke, Eni Uduma Chima, Nkemkamna Kama are contesting Senate and House of Representatives seats under APC, PDP and NDC and no attack, no violence in their places. Nobody is hunting them, nobody is destroying their homes; nobody is attacking their supporters. Why Ezza clan, why Ezza South?” he queried. Ngwuta vowed that no amount of intimidation, harassment and attack will stop him from supporting the PDP and its governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Odii.
Dr. Jerry Uhuo, a Public Affairs analyst from Ezza, condemned the growing trend of violence in the area ahead of the 2027 general election. Uhuo said while the political campaigns are yet to formally commence, there have been attacks, harassment and intimidation of members of opposition parties in some parts of Ezza.
He alleged that these threats are being branded acts of cultism to justify the nefarious response to legitimate political activities, which is another way of engaging Ezza people to fight and kill each other to promote failure, describing it as an unfortunate development.
“Democracy comes as a system where the people are expected to freely choose their leaders who struggle for the scarce resources and get what, how, and where for those they represent. There should be a time in a people’s trajectory when there is the need to pause and reflect. This is the moment the Ezza people should reflect and refuse to be constantly used as political tools and punching bags among themselves to satisfy the ego and political ambition of a drummer in the bush,” Uhuo cautioned.
Stephen Ugamah, a lawyer from the clan, described the politically motivated attacks in the community as disturbing and dangerous. He expressed fears that there may be loss of lives if the ugly trend continues.
Ugama said: “there is a growing ugly trend in Ezza land and that is this notion of tagging meetings or gatherings of opposition elements as meetings of cult groups. It started with what happened at Ifeanyi Nworie’s compound and I have read so many posts since after that incident echoing that there will be no room for cult meetings in Ezza land. It is the APC from top to bottom.
“This is dangerous and if not stopped, lives would be lost on or before the elections. Those you tagged cultists because they are not in your party are not trees that will stand and watch you attack them. Most of them are your comrades in arms who were formerly with you in APC but have to join other parties due to interests.
“It is practically impossible that everyone will vote APC from top to bottom. I, Ugamah Stephen, will never do that even with a gun on my head. I don’t see what you will do for me that will make me vote for your party. So, you better be aware that you may become an ancestor when next you go to attack your brothers where they are holding their meetings.
“Even in Izzi where the governor comes from, we have not seen APC members tagging APGA members as cultists or attacking their meetings. They go about their meetings and activities peacefully. But in Ezza, your nephews, cousins, brothers, in-laws, school mates and associates are being tagged cultists because they belong to different political parties from yours,” Ugamah declared.
Mrs. Euphemia Nwali, Chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area has vowed to deal with perpetrators of political violence in the local government. Nwali said she will no longer tolerate any form of political violence, crisis, intimidation, attack, harassment or any act capable of disrupting peace and security.
She implored political leaders and other stakeholders in the local government to properly caution their supporters against inflammatory statements, hate campaigns, provocation, thuggery and every other act capable of generating avoidable tension in the area.
“Everybody is entitled to his or her political choice, and every political party has the constitutional right to carry out lawful political activities. However, I want to make it clear that such rights must be exercised with maturity, tolerance and respect for the rights, safety and freedom of other citizens.
“No political ambition or interest is worth the blood or life of any son or daughter of Ezza South. I will not stand by and watch any individual or group, no matter how highly placed or politically connected, turn our peaceful local government area into a theatre of violence, crisis and insecurity.
“I have, therefore, taken necessary steps to ensure that the Police, internal security personnel and other relevant security agencies are strategically mobilised across the length and breadth of Ezza South Local Government Area.
“This is to guarantee peaceful movement, protect lives and property and ensure that our people continue their normal and legitimate businesses without fear in every nook and cranny of the council area.
“Let those planning to cause trouble, sponsor attacks, intimidate innocent citizens or foment crises have a change of heart. Our security agencies have been placed on alert to identify, arrest, and bring to justice anybody or group found to be involved in any act capable of causing a breach of peace,” the council chairman warned.
Nwali also called on traditional rulers, community, religious, youth, and women leaders in Ezza South to join hands with her administration and security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the local government area.
(The Sun)