By Udo Akam-Alo, ABAKALIKI
The body of a 53-year-old man, identified as Joseph Isu, has been recovered three days after he was reported missing by his family in Amata Akpoha Community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to a statement by the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, Mr Isu’s corpse was recovered in Amasiri River in a bag with a heavy stone round his neck.
The statement further narrated that the lifeless body which was found with the help of a search group, was seen with injuries and cuts from gunshots and matchets.
“The search party organized by the Afikpo north Divisional Police Officer (DPO) has on 01/10/2020 recovered the body of the said Mr. Joseph packaged in a cellophane bag with heavy stone hanged round his neck, with gunshot injury on his right leg and his stomach cut wide open.
“You would recall that on 28th September, 2020 one Joseph Isu aged 53yrs was declared missing by the family after the attack on Amata Akpoha people at the farmland by suspected Ezeke Amasiri Community over land/quarry ownership where about three (3) persons were also reported injured and were taken to the hospital for medical treatment,” the statement reads.
Describing the incident as barbaric and inhuman, the state Commissioner of Police, Philip Maku however commiserated with the deceased family, the people of Amata Akpoha Community and the general public, urging them to remain calm while investigations to identify and arrest the culprit (s) is ongoing.
He also urged the people of the state to imbibe the culture of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) rather than violence.
