Tragedy struck in Umueze community, in the Mbaitoli Local Government
Area of Imo State on Wednesday, after the traditional ruler of the
community, Eze Opara, allegedly killed a 25-year-old graduate, Uchenna
Opara, aka Junior.Punch correspondent,
who visited the community in the early hours of Thursday, was informed
by residents that the incident occurred on around 6.15pm at the
community’s primary school playground.
When Punch correspondent visited the palace of the traditional ruler,
scores of youths were seen setting the palace ablaze, including
destroying the suspect’s Nissan car.
An oil mill belonging to the monarch, which was a stone’s throw from the
palace, was not spared, as the enraged youths set it ablaze as well.
The youth leader of the community, Bethel Iwuoha, told Punch Metro that
while one of the security guards of the monarch, Atuonye Opara,
allegedly cocked the pump-action rifle, Eze allegedly pulled the
trigger.
Iwuoha said immediately the bullet hit Junior, a 2017 graduate of
Library and Information Science of the Imo State University, Owerri, on
the chest, the monarch and his security aide hurriedly entered into a
car and fled from the scene.
He said Junior was rushed to a police clinic at Amakaohia, where he was confirmed dead.
The youth leader accused Eze of always using his security guards to intimidate indigenes of the community.
According to Iwuoha, trouble started when the youths, who made use of
the playground for their football training, protested that the son of
the monarch, Temple Opara, could not take over the field with a football
team he brought from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, without informing the
youths who had been cleaning the pitch for a long time.
He said the prince then gave the youths N10,000, which infuriated the
monarch who demanded that the money be handed over to him (Eze).
“While we were training on Wednesday evening, the traditiaonal ruler,
who was returning in his car with Atuonye, reversed and headed for the
pitch. They both alighted from the car and started shouting at us.
“The monarch said we were challenging his authority in the community.
While he was shouting, his security guard went into the car and brought
out the pump-action rifle.
“The monarch took the gun and wanted to shoot us, but his personal
assistant attempted stopping him. It was in the course of struggling
with his PA that a bullet went out and hit Junior on the chest. The
traditional ruler, out of fear of attack from the youths, abandoned the
gun and fled,” the youth leader said.
At the family compound of the slain graduate, his father, Franklin
Opara, a retired customs officer, said it was the monarch that killed
his son.
“Junior was supposed to proceed on his National Youth Service Corps
programme in March 2017, when he was killed. I was with him a few hours
before he went to the field. He was not just my first son, but my first
child. I call on the government to give me justice. My son cannot die in
vain,” he added.
The state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, in a telephone
conversion, told Punch correspondent that Eze was in police custody,
adding that the gun had also been recovered.
He said, “We have moved in to restore normalcy. We are in touch with the
community leaders, including the Deputy Governor of the state, Eze
Madumere.
“As I speak with you, the Owerri area command has moved in with
operatives to ensure there is no more breakdown of law and order in the
community. It was the murder that precipitated the arson. It is a case
of murder and investigation is ongoing.”
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Nigeria Air: EFCC arrests Sirika over alleged N8bn fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has picked up ex-Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over an ongoing N8,069,176,864.00 ...
-
Lizzy Anjorin On Husband-Snatching Scandal: I’m Not Dating Married London Man Wese Peckam, His Pregnant Wife Telling Lies About Me
-
The Nigerian street hawker, Salle who had gained popularity after singing beautifully in a viral video has revealed that the famous Americ...
-
UNCATEGORIZED #BBNaija: “Cee-C insulted me”- Show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu By NellyBillz | April 27, 2018 0 Comments Pin It...
No comments:
Post a Comment