Posted by Joe Kalu reporting on
Ten members of the gang that has been terrorizing travelers at the Nguzu Edda junction of Arochukwu/Umuahia Federal road has been smashed by the Ohafia Vigilante group.
Ten members of the gang that has been terrorizing travelers at the Nguzu Edda junction of Arochukwu/Umuahia Federal road has been smashed by the Ohafia Vigilante group.
The ten armed robbers were rounded up and executed extra-judiciously at Okagwe Ohafia reputed for their ruthlessness in implementing agreed policies of the community, no matter whose ox is gored.
After the robbers had confessed and pleaded guilty as charged, this publication gathered that they were taken to a vast land where, one after the other, the robbers were given a shovel to dig their own grave, and thereafter executed and buried.
A spokesman for the vigilante group explained that they were worried by the spate of harassments carried out by armed youths who operate mostly on motorbikes.
"Most especially we were ached by the killing of a middle-aged man last week at the Amuke road, ostensibly for ritual purposes", he had said.
According to a source, the man was returning to his house in Amuke Ohafia when he was ambushed and killed. His head, hands, legs and private part were all removed ostensibly for ritualistic practices.
The vigilante group had been finding it difficult for sometime now to track down the robbers because the son of one of them was involved and was privileged to get first hand security information of the group to feed his gang.
As soon as the vigilante group realized this and re-organized its strategy, the armed gang was smashed.
The youths hailed from Edda, Amangwu Ohafia, Amaekpu in Afikpo South and Ohafia LGAs of Ebonyi and Abia States respectively.
The gang specialized in terrorizing travelers along the Nguzu junction up to Ugwu Rubber near Igbere junction. They robbed, raped and dispossessed victims of their valuables.
Last year this same group had robbed the Ohafia community bank and carted away millions of naira.
As they were hurrying away, we further gathered, a police patrol team who were unaware of the incident intercepted them.
As the police who were more concerned with the collection of their 'toll' stretched out hands to collect money, the frightened robbers opened fire on them killing one and injuring others.
Many residents interviewed expressed gratitude to the vigilante group for rising up to the situation.
Meanwhile, the elated chairman of Ohafia LG council, Hon. Emeka Kalu has donated a bus and some cash to the security outfit to stem the wave of violence in the council.