Chaos Erupts at New Yam Festival in Ebonyi State, Injuring 10 People

 

No fewer than 10 people were injured and many others hospitalized after chaos broke out in Ihie village, Ishiagu Autonomous Community, located in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The disturbance occurred during the community’s New Yam Festival on Saturday when a team of policemen from the state command disrupted the event.

According to eyewitness reports, the village was fully prepared for the festival, with canopies set up and other arrangements in place. However, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered when heavily armed police officers arrived in five branded Hilux vans and began destroying items meant for the celebration. Among the items damaged were sound systems, plastic chairs, canopies, tables, generators, and other valuables. The officers also confiscated ceremonial cannon guns that had been set up for the event.

Journalists who were present were warned by the police not to take photographs and were ordered to leave the scene. Once the media left, the officers reportedly started firing tear gas and causing further damage.

Women preparing food for the festival were caught in the teargas, as was a young woman, Peculiar Ajah, who was receiving medical treatment inside her home. Ajah described her terrifying experience, stating that teargas was fired directly at her house, leaving her struggling to breathe until she was taken out of the building.

A 77-year-old local resident, Leonard Ekeh, expressed his outrage over the incident, describing it as an attack on the community’s culture. He called on the state’s Commissioner of Police to investigate the actions of the officers, saying, “How can you come into our community and disrupt our culture? At 77 years, I can’t fear anybody.”

The President General of the community, Ume Cletus, revealed that September 29 is traditionally reserved for the New Yam Festival each year. He questioned the disruption, alleging that the community’s traditional ruler has been causing trouble, including the repeated arrest of local residents. Cletus said this behavior led the community to pass a vote of no confidence in the ruler.

Meanwhile, the state’s police spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu, stated he was unaware of the incident but promised to follow up with the Ivo police division for more details. Efforts to contact the traditional ruler were unsuccessful, as their phones were switched off.

This incident occurred just 20 hours after the Ivo Local Government Chairman, Emmanuel Ajah, imposed a ban on all activities in the area due to rising insecurity concerns.