News

80-year-old man killed after praying for APGA candidates in Ebonyi

Published

2 hours ago

August 19, 2026

An 80-year-old man, Onwe Ubochi, has reportedly been killed in Osege village, Umuogodo Oshia Ngbo community, in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Ubochi was allegedly murdered on Monday after leading a group of elders in a prayer session for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to reports, the octogenarian was attacked while returning home from the prayer session along a village track. His attackers were said to have dragged his body into a thick forest and dumped it in a nearby stream.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged killing were not immediately clear at the time of filing this report.

The Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday confirmed the incident, saying information available to the command revealed that the octogenarian left home on Monday but his body was discovered on a farm track on Tuesday.

A statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the deceased was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, where he was confirmed dead and his body deposited in the morgue.

The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of one Amos Onwe Ubochi, who left his residence on 17 August 2026 but did not return.

“On 18 August 2026, the command received information that the lifeless body of Amos Onwe Ubochi was discovered along a bush path within the community. Upon receiving the report, Police operatives visited the scene, and evacuated the body to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, where he was confirmed dead.

“The command has commenced a comprehensive investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death and identify those responsible.

“The command assures members of the public that every necessary step will be taken to get to the root of the incident, while urging anyone with useful information that could assist the investigation to come forward.”

The All Progressives Grand Alliance House of Representatives candidate for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency,. Tochukwu Ogalagu, condemned the killing, vowing that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

Ogalagu, who described Ubochi’s death as painful, said his detractors could not stop a project whose timing was ripe.

He urged his supporters to remain calm.

He said, “My dear brothers and sisters, it is with a deep sense of personal loss that I hereby condemn the gruesome murder of Elder Onwe Ubochi of Osege village, Umuogudu Oshia Ngbo, Ohaukwu LGA, Ebonyi State by yet to be identified assailants who waylaid him on his way home, killed him and dragged his body to a stream located far away from the road to his compound where they dumped his body inside the stream.

“This elderly man was the person who led the other elders in a prayer session and the endorsement of the APGA candidates on 17th August, 2026.

“He was hale and hearty during the consultation and was captured on camera performing the role of an elder during the consultation.

“After the consultation, the old man was trekking home alone when he was waylaid, abducted, murdered and dumped inside a stream. His family searched for him throughout the night but only found his body in a sitting position inside a stream located far away from the road leading to his compound. He was fully clothed clothed when he was discovered in the stream.

“The police hierarchy has been duly notified of the incident for necessary investigations and the corpse has been deposited in the mortuary.

“I want to assure the APGA supporters that no stone will be left unturned in the investigation of this dastardly murder and the person or persons involved will surely face the law.

“The killing of Elder Onwe Ubochi is clearly a fulfilment of the threats issued by expiring political actors in Ebony/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency and the blood of the innocent old man will surely speak against the perpetrators of this evil and their sponsors.

“Henceforth, I urge all APGA faithfuls in Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency to remain calm, vigilante and resolute in our mission as the police and other law enforcement agents unravel the details of this gruesome murder.

“I assure all of you that no amount of threats, intimidation, political conspiracy or shedding of innocent blood will be enough to stop an idea whose time has come for fulfilment.”