Police in Ebonyi State have commenced investigation to unravel the discovery of 79 fresh shallow graves at Ezillo community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The discovery followed the killing of a 29-year-old man from Ezeagu, Chigozie Okeagu, by some warlords in the warring Ezillo community.
According to police report, four persons have been arrested in connection with the killing. It was alleged that the warlords ambushed Okeagu and his younger brother when they were returning to their village and killed him but the brother escaped.
Okeagu, a trader was returning from a ceremony at Ezzamgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area and ran out of fuel. He stopped to buy fuel at Ezillo when the warlords swooped on them but his brother, Okechukwu Eke, escaped into the bush where he passed the night.
Eke has been admitted at an undisclosed hospital where he is receiving treatment from trauma he suffered during the incident.
Sources told our correspondent that Okeagu was slaughtered in a shrine where his dismembered body was reportedly exhumed from a shallow grave where over 79 fresh graves were also found.
The traditional ruler of Ezeagu community Igwe Innocent Nworie, during a peace talk over the incident, regretted that despite the peaceful disposition of his people, they were still being slaughtered by militants.
The monarch expressed fear that with the Yule tide fast approaching and with the only bridge that leads to the community already colapsed leaving the community with no other alternative than to follow Ezililo militants, their lives are in danger. (The Tide)
