VODEO:They Came for My Life”:Enugu Community Leader Recounts Alleged M Assassination Plot, Accused Enugu Commissioner as Community Crisis Deepens

They Came for My Life”:Enugu Community Leader Recounts Alleged M Assassination Plot, Accused  Enugu Commissioner as Community Crisis Deepens

Mburubu, Enugu State — Tension continues to rise in Mburubu community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, following disturbing allegations by a prominent community member, Hon. Egbo Obinna Stephen, who has recounted how he narrowly escaped what he described as a coordinated assassination attempt allegedly carried out by hoodlums during a violent night that left his home vandalized and his family traumatized.

Speaking with journalists during a fact-finding visit to the community, Hon. Egbo, a well-known political figure in Mburubu, narrated in detail how events unfolded on the night of Friday, October 31, 2025, a night he said marked a turning point in the worsening crisis linked to the lingering Igweship tussle in the ancient kingdom.

According to him, the crisis began earlier that evening when an Igweship aspirant in the community, Ozo Jerry Onuokaibe, was reportedly preparing to host a New Yam Festival scheduled to commence on 1st November , Hon. Egbo said residents became uneasy after buses allegedly conveying suspected hoodlums were seen arriving at Nkwo Mburubu Market.

He explained that upon sighting the unusual movement and sensing imminent danger, he immediately left the market area. By about 8:30 p.m. the same night, he said, the atmosphere in the community had grown tense as loud war songs and threatening chants reportedly echoed from different directions, heightening fear among residents.

Hon. Egbo stated that his wife, alarmed by the growing unrest, advised him to leave their home temporarily to avoid being targeted. Acting on her advice, he said he sought refuge in the residence of Ozo Jerry, noting that security operatives were present at the location, which he believed offered him some measure of safety. He remained there until around midnight, hoping the situation would calm.

However, in the early hours of the morning, the situation reportedly escalated. Hon. Egbo told journalists that at about 2:00 a.m., he received a frantic call informing him that armed hoodlums had stormed his house in search of him. He alleged that the attackers questioned his wife about his whereabouts and, when she refused to reveal his location, they began shooting sporadically and vandalizing his property.

According to him, the assailants caused extensive damage to his home and destroyed valuables, leaving his family in shock and fear. He said his wife and other family members who were present during the attack later recounted how the armed men moved aggressively around the compound, issuing threats and firing gunshots before eventually leaving.

Upon learning of the attack and realizing that the hoodlums were still roaming the community and allegedly searching for him, Hon. Egbo said he decided to flee immediately to save his life. He explained that at first light, he secretly escaped from Mburubu through bush paths and made his way to Enugu metropolis, where he sought refuge.

When asked by journalists whether he could identify those behind the attack, Hon. Egbo insisted that the perpetrators were known. He said his wife and his brother, who witnessed the incident firsthand, recognized some of the attackers as members of the Mburubu community. He further alleged that the group was led by the chairman of the community’s Neighborhood Watch.

Hon. Egbo claimed that the motive behind the attack was not criminal but political, linking it directly to the ongoing Igweship tussle. He alleged that the Enugu State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Prince Lawrence Ezeh, sponsored and deployed the hoodlums because of his opposition stance in the contest for the traditional throne.

“My only crime is that I do not support the side they want to impose on the community,” he said. “I believe these people were sent to silence me and intimidate others who oppose the process.”

These allegations, however, remain unproven, and as of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the commissioner to address the claims.

Hon. Egbo Obinna Stephen is a familiar figure in Mburubu’s political landscape, having previously served as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP) at different periods. Community members describe him as influential and deeply involved in local political affairs, a factor some observers believe may have contributed to the intensity of the alleged attack.

The crisis in Mburubu took another turn the following day when the Nigeria Police Force, Nkanu East Divisional Command, arrested the chairman of the community’s Neighborhood Watch following fresh allegations that hoodlums were sent to vandalize Mburubu Community Secondary School. Community sources allege that the Neighborhood Watch chairman, popularly known as “Akpaka,” was installed with the backing of the Commissioner for Science and Technology and was among those who led the October 31 attacks on homes within the community.

While police authorities are yet to release a detailed statement on the arrest or the specific charges, residents say the development has further exposed the depth of the crisis and the alleged involvement of local power structures in the violence.

The escalating unrest has drawn widespread concern from youth groups and civil society organizations. Groups, including the Ohaneze Youth Council, have publicly appealed to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to intervene urgently. They have called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the allegations, the deployment of adequate security to protect lives and property, and decisive steps to restore peace and order in Mburubu.

Residents say fear has now become a constant presence in the community, with many families remaining on edge amid reports of sporadic threats and intimidation. Community leaders warn that without swift government intervention, the Igweship dispute could degenerate further, posing a serious threat to stability in the area.

As investigations continue and tensions remain high, many in Mburubu are looking to the state government and security agencies to act decisively, ensure accountability, and prevent further bloodshed in a community that has long prided itself on peace and unity.