ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The country home of Stanley Okoro-Emegha, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chairman in Ebonyi State, has been burnt by hoodlums.
His residence is located at Ekoli Edda, in the Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, the incident occurred at 10.18pm, on Monday.
A source in the area also told The Punch that Okoro-Emegha, had on 24 December, kicked against the election of a youth group in the community that saw the emergence of loyalists to the immediate past chairman of the Afikpo South LGA, Eni China, as principal officers of the community group.
According to the source, the APC boss had expressed displeasure over the election and reportedly drew the attention of the new Council area chairman, Hon. Chima Ekumankama, who cancelled the election and called for the group’s disbandment.
On a visit in the area by the APC stalwart, the hoodlums were said to have opened fire on him and his Ebubeagu orderlies, and pitted them in a gun duel.
The party chieftain, when he sensed that the alleged AK-47 wielding hoodlums had overpowered his Pump Action-wielding Ebubeagu orderlies, retreated and proceeded to Abakaliki, the state capital.
While in Abakaliki, news was being circulated that his country home has been set on ablaze by the suspected hoodlums.
Narrating his experience, the APC chairman, Okoro-Emegha, said he was attacked by thugs loyal to a politician in the area, adding that his house has equally been burnt by the miscreants.
His words: “Yes. It’s true. They attacked me tonight at Ekoli Edda community, and the same people, some of whom I know, I have just heard burnt my house.
“These are Eni’s boys and they attacked me and they are they people that burnt my house. I call on the police and other security agencies to swing into action. They know what to do to unravel the truth of the matter. They know what to do.”
Meanwhile, calls and messages made and sent to the Ebonyi Police Command by Punch were neither picked nor responded to, as of the time of filing this report.
However, it was gathered that its rank and files had taken over the community to forestall further breakdown of law and order.