There have been reported incidents of politically induced attacks and violence across the country less than two months into electioneering campaigns, signposting danger in the coming 2023 polls in Nigeria.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba at a recent meeting in Abuja with leaders of Political Parties in the country, raised the red flag, accusing some State governors of being complicit. Many Nigerians are raising concerns that if nothing is done to check this disturbing development, to allow for a free and level playing environment for all political parties and candidates, the integrity of the coming elections may questionable. There is increasing incidents of alleged politically motivated attacks in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria, and the cry for help by the people is deafening.
Also Read: Gunmen kill two Ebubeagu operatives in Ebonyi
The 2023 general elections may be about three months away, but the political tempo in Ebonyi State is already heating up and some ugly incidents of thuggery and attacks in the last month, underscores a rising culture of political intolerance and impunity as the days count down.
There are series of allegations that the ruling Party in Ebonyi State and its government are using a State run security outfit, code named “Ebubeagu”, to intimidate, harass and victimize the political opponents. A charge that both the ruling APC and the State government have severally denied. Critics readily cite the incident of 15th of October, 2022 where the now detained Ebonyi South Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Linus Okorie, was alleged to have been arrested in brigandage style by the operatives of Ebubeagu.
On October 20, 2022, suspected agents of Ebubeagu were said to have pitched against the campaign trail of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Governorship Candidate in the State, Benard Odoh, in an alleged gun attack, and just days, on November 9, 2022 same Ebubeagu operatives hijacked and brutalised an outspoken chieftain of the PDP, Abia Onyike at a local pharmacy shop in Abakaliki, the State capital. Four days later, precisely on November 13, the same Ebubeagu agents were fingered in alleged attack on Labour Party’s loyalists at a campaign rally in Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area.
Now, the latest in the catalogue of violent attacks is the Saturday, November 18, 2022 incident in which Ebubeagu operative were accused of shooting two young men on the convoy of one Julius Ama Oji, alias Ochiri Edda, a popular businessman and a chieftain of the major opposition PDP in the State, at Ekoli Edda in Afikpo South LGA of the State. But, both the Ebonyi State Government and the ruling APC in the State have continuously washed off their hands on the alleged highhandedness of the Ebubeagu and always come to their defense.
Even the Police in the State have severally acknowledged the complementary roles of the Ebubeagu security outfit The Ebubeagu outfit has equally been on the receiving end of the violent attacks in Ebonyi State as over ten of her personnel have been reportedly shot dead while on duty, in the last two months. Concerned citizens are appealing to the relevant quarters to nip in the bud the emerging security threats in Ebonyi State, as the electioneering season builds up.
Editor: Amaechi Anakwe
