Suspected herdsmen slaughter Ohaneze chieftain’s father, kill INEC staff and kidnap his wife in Ebonyi

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Emmanuel Igwe and Ajah Okafor, father of Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth wing chieftain, Damian Okafor.

The incident happened in Ishiagu community in Ivo Local government area of Ebonyi State on Sunday evening, June 18, 2023. 

Igwe’s wife was also kidnapped by the gunmen who intercepted their car along the Ishiagu-Mpu road. 

Damian, who confirmed the killing of his father to The Nation on Monday, June 19, alleged that the attackers were herdsmen who have been terrorising the area. 

He said the gunmen, after attacking the couple, took the woman into the bush.

“In their bid to escape, they ran into my father who was in his farm tending to his crops. They proceeded to kill my father so that he will not raise alarm and expose their presence in the area,” he said.

Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Ebonyi State also confirmed the death and kidnap of the INEC staff and wife.

“One of our colleagues, an Assistant Electoral Officer in Afikpo North LGA, Emmanuel Igwe, was shot to death by gunmen in Ivo on his way back from Abia State and his wife kidnapped,” she said. 

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Ebonyi Police Command, Onome Onvwakpoyeya, said gunmen suspected to be herdsmen shot the man on the head through the windshield of his car. 

She said the gunmen used a knife to slice the throat of the second victim in his farm.