Soldiers shoot man dead over Ezza/Ezillo war

By Dennis Agbo

ABAKALIKI- A thirty year old father of one child, Mr. Clement Nwode has been reported shot by soldiers in Abakaliki, alleging that he (Nwode) was among the militants involved in the war between Ezza/Ezillo communities. Soldiers have been keeping guard in the communities since May 2008, when the clashed broke-out between the two communities.

Vanguard learnt that at exactly 4.30pm on Wednesday evening, the late Nwode, was shot dead inside his compound by three military men who had allegedly laid ambush for him when he was coming home.

The incident stalled a function at Ezza-West development council, where the wife of Ebonyi state Governor Mrs. Josephine Elechi, was bailed to commission a health centre, citing security threat. But commander of the army at the Ezza/Ezillo war zone, Lieutenant Garuba, told Vanguard on phone that he was not aware of the incident at Abakaliki, since his primary assignment is in Ezillo

Eye witness at the scene of the incident, at Pepsi depot along Abakaliki-Enugu expressway told newsmen that when the deceased was returning from the site, where his elder sister is building a house at Umuoghara in Ezza North Local Government Area, some people told him that some soldiers were waiting for him.

“When Eze was told that there were some military men waiting for him and they have been there since  morning, he asked why they were waiting for him and it was at that point that the soldiers cocked their guns. And when Eze then tried to run, one of the soldiers open fire and shot him on the leg, then the second soldier shot him on the stomach”.

“The other soldier that shot him on the stomach then removed his cap and sat on the ground and started crying and that was when the other remaining soldiers started calling their leader, telling him that they had shot the man and that he died on the spot”, the source said.