Ebonyi Woman Alleges Pregnancy Loss After Suspected Thugs Attack PDP Chieftain’s Residence

A woman, 40, in Ebonyi State, Blessing Ngwuta has alleged that she lost her four-month pregnancy after suspected political thugs attacked her family home in Ezza South Local Government Area.

Ngwuta said she was assaulted during the incident, which reportedly left several people injured while vehicles, motorcycles and other property were damaged or stolen.

The woman, who spoke in an interview with SaharaReporters on Sunday, said the attackers invaded the family compound on Thursday while she was preparing food for political guests visiting her husband, Christopher Ngwuta, a 73-year-old Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain from Amaezekwe community.

According to her, the assailants were armed with guns, machetes, swords, sticks and stones.

She alleged that the attackers beat people in the compound, vandalised vehicles and tricycles, and stole cash, mobile phones and motorcycles.

Ngwuta said she became a target after one of the attackers reportedly discovered that she was in the kitchen.

She alleged that the men went to the kitchen, where she and other women were preparing food, and attacked them.

According to her, one of the attackers struck her from behind, causing her to fall and hit her abdomen on the ground. She said another man subsequently pointed a gun at her and threatened to use her as an example.

Ngwuta said she began bleeding shortly after the assault and was rushed to hospital by her husband.

“Because of the attack, I lost my four-month pregnancy,” she said, adding that she had been discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

The victim said she was not involved in politics or affiliated with any political party and questioned why she was attacked.

“I am not a politician. I don't know anything about politics, and I don't belong to any political party. I don't know my offence,” she said, while calling on security agencies to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.

Her husband described the attack as politically motivated and said the incident would not make him abandon the PDP or withdraw his support for the party's 2027 governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.

The elderly politician said he recognised some of the alleged attackers and expressed disappointment that people he considered close to him could allegedly participate in the attack.

He maintained that he had the constitutional right to belong to any political party of his choice and questioned why supporters of different political parties could campaign freely in other parts of Ebonyi without similar incidents.

“Why Ezza clan? Why Ezza South?” he asked.

Ngwuta said his support for the PDP was influenced by what he described as the political marginalisation of the Ezza people under the current administration.

The alleged attack occurred about a week after suspected political thugs disrupted a PDP event in Ezza South, where several party supporters and journalists were reportedly assaulted.

On August 1, PDP supporters had gathered at Ikwuator Idembia for the defection of former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Ifeanyi Nworie, to the opposition party.

The event was reportedly disrupted by suspected thugs, forcing organisers to move to Nworie's residence. The attackers allegedly followed them to the new venue and assaulted some participants.

Journalists covering the event also reportedly came under attack, with members of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, alleging that the assailants attempted to set their branded operational vehicles on fire.

Following the incidents, the Ebonyi State PDP accused the ruling APC of orchestrating intimidation against opposition members and supporters.

The party chairman, Chukwuma Igwe, said the PDP would not be intimidated and called on security agencies to investigate the attacks and protect citizens' rights to political participation and freedom of association.

The Ebonyi State APC denied involvement in the incidents.

Its chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, said Governor Francis Nwifuru does not support political violence and urged party supporters to avoid acts that could escalate political tensions.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Police Command had not announced any arrests or identified those responsible for the alleged attack.

Attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain a reaction from the command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, reportedly did not respond to calls or a text message seeking comment.

Editor’s Note: The allegation that Blessing Ngwuta lost her pregnancy as a result of the reported assault is based on her account and has not been independently verified.