By Anayo Okoli

UNIDENTIFIED gunmen were said to have killed a female vigilante, identified as Mrs. Onwe Blessing Onana in Ebonyi state yesterday, while another sustained injuries.

The gunmen launched the bloody attack at the office of Ngboejeogu Central Security at Ngbo Court in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Chairman of Ohaukwu council Mr. Odono Onwe confirmed the incident, and explained that the attack claimed the life of a security personnel, left one injured while some properties and a motorcycle was carted away by the hoodlums.

Odono lamented that many security men in the council area have been battered, humiliated, abused and murdered, gruesomely by some unidentified gunmen.

According to him, the attacks have continued to demoralize the frantic efforts of the vigilantes in safeguarding the localities.

“Sorrowfully, we mourn and console the families of the departed security personnel that lost her life in active duty, the one that is injured, operatives of Ngboejeogu Central Security, Ngboejeogu Clan, and entire Ohaukwu”, he said.

He noted that efforts have been put in place by security operatives to ensure that the culprits of the heinous crime were apprehended and brought to justice.

“Our resolved to achieve peace in Ohaukwu Local Government can never be undermined by anybody, we urge our people to be vigilante in their environment and report any illegal movement to the nearest police station.

“Ohaukwu is the land of God and such calamity shall never befall us again. Amen”.

Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youth group has condemned the armed attack, describing it as barbaric and unfortunate.

A statement signed by the publicity Secretary, Mr. George Umeh, the group regretted that the  killing was coming about three weeks to the one year anniversary of the murder of one Elom Chinonso (aka Oscar).

The group decried the current situation in Ngbo, where there is total lack of vigilante or security checkpoints in the entire 10 autonomous communities of Ngbo.

“The Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youth will work closely with government authorities, the Ngbo Leaders Council and all concerned persons to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are made to face the law.”

They called on the State Government and the the Nigeria police to hasten efforts on the resuscitation of the Police Area Command in Ngbo and the establishment of an effective Community Policing in the entire Ngbo land.