From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
The peace of a sleepy town, Inikiri-Umuezeoka Effium in Ohaukwu Council area of Ebonyi State was shaken to its foundation yesterday when gunmen suspected to be hired assassins stormed the town killing a 74 year old Nwigwe Nwonu and wounding one of his sons identified as Monday Nwonu.
Saturday Sun gathered that the hoodlums gained entrance into the compound of the deceased at exactly 1am at Ufumba-Echi village in Umuezeoka Effium community demanding the whereabouts of one of the sons of the deceased (names withheld) before leaving sorrows behind while they fled the community.
A family source disclosed that the hoodlums stormed the compound and wielded dangerous weapons including Ak47 rifle and shot sporadically into the air to scare villagers before they unleashed mayhem on the man and his son.
The source further stated that the gunmen came asking after one of the sons of the deceased who is a community based businessman who had earlier upon hearing the sounds of the firearms sneaked out of the compound to safety.
Apparently frustrated, the gunmen, it was gathered shot the septuagenarian for failing to provide the target who is his son and shot one of his sons before fleeing the community.
However, when our reporter visited the community, residents of the area were seen in mourning mood discussing in groups as many of them said the attack was an assassination attempt targeted at either one of two sons of the deceased or an armed robbery attack on the family.
Meanwhile, policemen attached to Effium Police Division were alerted and had taken both the deceased and his wounded son to the hospital.
