Ebubeagu commander’s pregnant wife killed, suspect identified

Gunmen have killed the pregnant wife of Kalu Chima (aka Oyeku), the Ebubeagu Commander in Ama-Etiti village, Etiti community, in the Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The two-man gang reportedly wore face masks during the attack on Sunday.

An eyewitness, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity, said the hoodlums took the commander’s wife outside, shot her in the neck and set the house on fire.

As the fire raged, the source added that neighbours and passersby were scared away by the gunmen, who shot sporadically into the air.

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It was learnt that the incident lasted between 1.30am and 2am.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chris Anyanwu, in a statement, said the command had launched an investigation into the incident.

The statement read, “A report filed in by CSP Ayodele Umujose, the Divisional Police Officer, Afikpo-South Division, Ebonyi State, has it that the Ama-Etiti Amaoso Edda Youth Leader, Nnachi Mba, reported that around 02.30am on January 1, 2023, the house of the Afikpo-South Ebubeagu Commander, Oyeku Kalu Chima, at Owutu Edda, was attacked and set ablaze, while his wife, Urenwa Kalu Chima, was shot dead.

“It has not been established meantime, who perpetrated the dastardly act. However, the said Ebubeagu commander alleged that it was one Ashango and his cohorts that did it.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Aliyu Garba, has directed that immediate investigation be activated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation/Intelligence Department to unravel those behind the crime.”