Again, thugs attack LP members in Ebonyi

• Injure one, destroy property worth N5m

Barely three days after suspected thugs attacked members of Labour Party (LP) in Ikwo and Ezza South local government areas in Ebonyi State, some members of the party have come under attack again in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

The thugs, numbering over 40, allegedly working for a political party, ambushed the LP members, who were canvassing for votes in the area, attacked them, injuring one person and setting ablaze their Toyota bus.

The hoodlums also invaded the official residence of the Caretaker Chairman of Ohaozara Council Area, smashed vehicles, carted away valuables and destroyed other property worth about N5 million.

The Caretaker Chairman of Ohaozara Council Area, Mr. Chaka Nweze, while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki yesterday, said when he got the information about the attack, he called the state  Police Commissioner, who immediately sent his men to the place, who arrested six boys allegedly involved in the attack.

According to Nweze: “Our boys who went to canvass for votes with a bus, were coming back to the town when they were waylaid. The thugs shot the four tyres of the vehicle. There were only three people in the bus and they almost killed the driver of the bus. The driver was racing to the police station but because of deflated tyres he could not continue. The LP members had to come down from the vehicle since the tyres were deflated and for their  lives. The boys, numbering about 40, came in about five branded buses and the particular boy that shot at the bus was known. He brought out a pistol and shot at the tank of the bus.

“An witness, who is an ‘Akara’ seller, saw the boy when he shot at the tank of the bus and they used the firewood from the Akara seller to ignite and burn the brand new bus. Immediately they set the bus ablaze, the thugs moved to my official residence and made away with a lot of things.

“They smashed two vehicles parked in my residence, destroyed two televisions, gas cooker, generating set, refrigerator, assorted wines, about 300 plastic chairs, made away with goats and rams in the premises and other valuables were destroyed. What they destroyed and carted away was estimated at about N5 million.