By Ifeanyi Okonkwo
Ebenebe community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, is currently in panic mood after suspected cultists invaded the palace of the traditional ruler, Igwe Christopher Nnaegbune, and that of his subjects.
This ugly incident is coming barely five months after a suspected cult group attacked and killed about 20 persons during a burial ceremony in the community.
Though no life was lost to the incident which occured between in the midnight of Monday, 27th June 2022, properties worth over N25m were destroyed by the attackers.
A source said the hoodlums who came in large numbers attacked the palace while the monarch and his subjects were asleep, shooting sporadically in the air while some were beating metal gongs (Ogene).
As at press time, the reason for the attack haven’t been ascertained.
A source said “when no one opened the gate for them, the hoodlums forced it open. However, they met no one outside the premises and they left afterwards.”
It was also gathered that the hoodlums had earlier visited the compound of late Chief Okoye family at Obuno village, Ebenebe in search of a youth leader, Mr Chukwujekwu Okoye, during which they vandalised Almaco doors, windows, chairs, generating set and other properties in the two buildings in the compound.
A source, who claimed to be awake when the incident occured, said he overheard the hoodlums saying they came to kill a member of the family, Mr Chukwujekwu Okoye.
According to the source, “Chukwujekwu, who is the Chairman of Obuno Village Youth, always used security men to chase away hoodlums from the community, and the monarch was also against their nefarious activities.
An eyewitness and member of the family, Mr Festus Okoye, said he narrowly escaped death on the day of the incident, as the hoodlums, on discovering that he was inside one of the rooms with his family, ordered them to come out.
“Our life is in danger. When they forced our entrance gate open, they went round our compound, destroying all the Almaco glasses and doors to see if there are people inside any of the rooms.
” It was in the process they discovered that I was inside with my wife and my child. They ordered us to come outside. But I pleaded with them. On hearing my voice, they said ‘Oh is man of God, let us live him.’ That was how they spared my family,” Mr Okoye stated.
Corroborating his brother’s story, Mr Chukwujekwu Okoye, who has gone into hiding since the incident, said he has reported the matter to the police, and called for government intervention to nip crime at the bud in Ebenebe, as his life and those of his family were in danger because the hoodlums were still threatening to kill him.
When contacted, the Traditional Ruler of Ebenebe, Igwe Christopher Nnaegbune, admitted that there was an attack on his palace by hoodlums on the said date, but promised to provide details later.
