Police, community begin manhunt for suspect
By Oginyi Ruth
A 35-year-old man, Mr. Simon Ugbala, has reportedly killed six members of his family including two of his children and wife at Onyikwa Nkaleke quarter in Ozibo community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The suspect who is said to be on the run also killed two school children in a community school in the area.
The incident was said to have occurred on Monday.
Ugbala was said to have ambushed the school children and kill two of them while others scampered for safety.
The incident which led to a state confusion in the community forced parents to hurriedly withdraw their children from schools for safety.
WARRI TODAY learnt that four victims of the attack are currently in critical condition at Accident and Emergency unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA).
It was gathered that the fleeing suspect who had been mentally unstable was said to have carried out the gruesome killings with machete before Ozibo community youths rushed to the scene.
He fled into the bush when he sighted the youths chasing him.
They quickly rushed the victims to the hospital but the situation was so critical that some doctors and nurses on duty ran away from the emergency unit later few of them reconvened and gave attention to the four who was brought half dead.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Loveth Odah confirmed the incident said the police was aware of killing of seven persons by the suspect including his wife and two children.
According to her, “on 21st January 2019 at about 2:pm, a councilor from Ebonyi local government representing Onyikwa ward,, Mr. Friday Nwigube came to Kpirikpiri police station and reported that one Ugbala Simon of about 35 years suspected to be insane man went about inflicting machete cuts on people.
“A combine team of detective rushed to the village where they found several persons with deep machete cuts. They were rushed to Teaching Hospital Abakaliki where seven of the victims were confirmed dead by a medical Doctor. Four others were still receiving treatment but on critical condition. Police detective and youths of the community are presently looking for the man.
“Insane person is no more one person business. When one person is suspected to be insane, the community should come together and take the person away from the community. I think they have place to stay which is Psychiatric hospital. It is a place where a suspected insane person is treated.
“You are talking about disorganizing the community, yes! When seven persons are already dead and two others are in critical condition, what do you expect? Police are there and since yesterday morning they have been there.
“The youths of the community are also helping the police to ensure that the suspect is arrested.”
