One person has been confirmed dead and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State during clashes involving some youths.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved youths from Okposi-Okwu and Amenuegu-Okposi villages.
An eyewitness, who spoke with NAN on condition of anonymity, said trouble started when a group of boys waylaid and beat up a girl from Amenuegu village before another boy, Nwabueze Nwachukwu, tried to rescue her.
The eyewitness said: “The boys subsequently attacked and stabbed Nwachukwu to death, which made youths of the community go berserk and they destroyed properties worth millions of naira in the process.
“The irate youths on getting to the shop and residential building of Chief Abah Nwankwo at Ohammahi, Okposi-Okwu destroyed three buildings in the compound.
“Two motorcycles were also burnt alongside his livestock such as goats and dogs, among others.”
Narrating his ordeal to NAN, Lazarus Nwankwo, the younger brother to Nwankwo, said the heavily armed boys, numbering more than 20, beat up his elder brother to a state of coma before taking him away.
Obidiya Okoro-Eze from Mkpuma-Nweze village said the youths also burnt all her clothes.
“My son was, however, involved in beating the deceased and though my family handed him over to them, they still destroyed everything inside the compound and stole my N12,000,” Okoro-Eze said.
Mark Onu, the Coordinator of Okposi Development Centre, said the situation had been brought under control through his quick intervention.
“I advice youths to be law-abiding and not to take the law into their hands, as the enthronement of peace and harmony in the area would bring rapid development,” Onu said.
Chris Anyanwu, the Ebonyi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident and told NAN that the police had brought the situation under control.
“The officer in charge of operations personally visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment and restoration of normalcy,” Anyanwu said.
Anyanwu, who could not say whether any arrests had been made, however, promised to update newsmen on the situation in the area.
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