They allegedly attacked the opposition party members with machetes and Dane guns at Double K Resort, Otukpo around 11 pm.
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State have accused the Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, James Oche and his deputy, Solomon Aboh, of attempting to assassinate Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponents in the council area.
Oche and Aboh were accused of leading over 50 members of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards on Saturday to attack and brutalise an APC Presidential Campaign Council member, Williams Okefie Epe and one Mr. Patrick Ezza, a human rights activist and social commentator.
They allegedly attacked the opposition party members with machetes and Dane guns at Double K Resort, Otukpo around 11 pm.
SaharaReporters gathered that Epe and Ezza were tortured and went into a coma. After being revived, they were taken to Igumale where they were allegedly further tortured by Oche; Aboh; the chairman's Chief of Staff, Sunday Aboh and one Mark-Johnson Odey, identified as Chief Thug.
SaharaReporters was told that the victims were dispossessed of their phones, money and other belongings before being handed over to the police. They were however released on Monday after the intervention of the police commissioner in the state, Wale Alao.
Following their release from police custody, the victims were immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi in Abuja. However, a source told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that there are indications that one of the victims who suffered a brain haemorrhage may be flown abroad for medical care.
The local council chairman, Oche, in a letter dated November 13, 2022, and addressed to the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Samuel Ortom, said that the victims were suspected to have masterminded the killing of over 30 persons within Apa Ward and neighbouring communities of Ado Local Government Area in the renewed Effium/Ezza crisis.
According to the letter seen by SaharaReporters, the local government chairman said, “Sequel to the renewed Effium/Ezza crisis that has, in the last few days claimed the lives of over Thirty (30) persons within Apa Ward and neighboring communities of Ado Local Government, the Ado Team of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards has achieved commendable success with the arrest of persons suspected to have masterminded the unbearable tragedy.
“Sir, the information at my disposal reveal (sic) that, on Saturday the 12th of November, 2022, the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards who since the ugly incident have intensified efforts in information and intelligence gathering rounded off a group of criminal masterminds wanted in connection with the killings in Ado and other forms of criminality in Benue State.
“The group of three said to be in possession of 2 AK 47 rifles on suspecting the presence of the volunteer guards attempted to escape but two out of the three were overpowered and arrested while the other is at large. Those arrested are Williams Okefie Epe and Patrick Ezza, while the person at large has been identified as Gideon Unazi. The arrest was made at Double K Resort in Otukpo Local Government Area.
“The Volunteer Guards have since handed them over to the Ado Divisional Office of the Nigerian Police for further investigation while intensifying efforts to secure arrest of the person who is at large. Gideon Unazi has a track record of criminality and was once declared wanted by Ado Local Government. He is also on the wanted list of the Nigerian Police for car theft and sundry crimes.
“Sir, you may wish to recall that, the brewing security challenges in Ado have led to the sack of over 10 communities out of 14 in Ulayi and the persistent killing and destruction in Inikiri and neighboring districts. The persons arrested are strongly suspected to act as mercenaries to pay masters in Effium communities in Ebonyi State to champion the annihilation of our people.
“We wish to remind you of the growing numbers of internally displaced persons occasioned by these attacks which currently is above two thousand and the adverse effects it has on our collective welfare and socio-economic lifestyle.
“Sir, we have prompted our security agencies to do a most diligent job in fishing out those behind these worrisome and recurrent attacks on our harmless communities and we are sure with these arrests more culprits and suspects will be known, pursued and rounded off to bear the consequences of their inordinate actions. We cannot thank you enough for the many sacrifices and the commitment you have continued to make for us to have lasting peace.”
But in his reaction, the member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency on the platform of PDP, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo, condemned the incident, describing it as politics of bitterness taken too far.
Agbo in a statement by his Media Adviser, Andrew Agbese, said he cannot understand what would warrant such a barbaric act of violence.
He, therefore, called on politicians, especially those from his constituency to shun violence.
The lawmaker said, "The savage violence unleashed on Hon. Williams Ochonu and other members of my constituency in Otukpo, from which they suffered various degrees of injuries, smacks of politics of bitterness and should be condemned by all well-meaning citizens!
"I'm yet to fathom what could have warranted these savage attacks on Hon Williams Ochonu, Best Agbese, Patrick Eza and others but we should remember that humanity is one and it is high time we moved away from politics of violence and bitterness to politics of issues and development.
“Public office was conceived to unite and develop society and not attack, maim or kill people. I urge the security architecture to bring the culprits to book in order to deter other urchins and bloodthirsty politicians across my Federal Constituency who may be spoiling for war ahead of the 2023 elections.
"I hereby call on our well-respected senior citizens and leaders in Agila district to wade into this matter, apportion blame where necessary and reconcile the victims and the attackers. There must be forgiveness, though very difficult but achievable.”