By Nkechinyere Ewa
About 10 persons from Ndiche Umuomara village, Ndiagu Amagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have been reportedly attacked by suspected thugs following a crisis that erupted in the community.
The victims including Nze Ukwa Nwankwo, Oduge Joseph, Ucha Igwe, Ukwa Simon and Ejike Nwanchonu sustained varying degrees of injuries during the incident and are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals across the state.
One of the victims, Nze Nwankwo Ukwa, who is receiving treatment at the (AE-FUTHA), narrated that he was preparing to attend a meeting convened by the traditional ruler of the community when the attack began.
“Before I could understand what was happening, a group of persons surrounded me and descended on me immediately. They attacked me with different weapons and inflicted serious injuries on me. One of my eyes is badly affected; I cannot see with it,” he said.
Ukwa further alleged that the attackers made away with his N120,000, mobile phone and other valuables. “The thugs came with soldiers who supervised the attack on us. Many people were seriously injured. Some had their hands tied behind their backs during the attack,” he alleged.
He maintained that there was no prior crisis in the community that warranted such violence but suggested that alleged attempts by some individuals to remove the village head may have triggered the incident.
The victims have petitioned the Ebonyi State Police Command, calling for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
In a petition dated February 18, 2026, addressed to the state Commissioner of Police, Uche-Adaku Anya, their lawyer, U.C. Igba, alleged that a group of soldiers, in conspiracy with hoodlums identifiable to the victims, invaded the village and carried out the attack.
According to the petition, the assailants were armed with dangerous weapons, including small arms, axes and locally made guns, and allegedly dispossessed residents of cash and property.
The lawyer further alleged that the hoodlums, with the tacit support of the soldiers, assaulted residents, burgled homes, robbed villagers of five motorcycles and destroyed houses belonging to members of the community.
The petition claimed that some victims were tied up and beaten in the presence of the soldiers, who allegedly prevented them from escaping and later abandoned them without handing them over to the police for investigation.
The lawyer argued that the alleged offences including attempted murder, malicious damage to property and unlawful possession of arms require urgent intervention and discreet investigation by the police authorities. “Our clients have suffered untold psychological, physical, economic and financial hardship owing to the criminal conduct of the said hoodlums. We therefore pray you to have our allegations discreetly investigated with a view to bringing the culprits to book,” the petition read.
The incident has reportedly thrown the community into confusion, with residents expressing fear over possible escalation if urgent action is not taken.
Efforts to reach security authorities for official confirmation and response were ongoing as of the time of filing this report.