One killed, many injured in Ebonyi communal clash

Edward Nnachi, Abakaliki

A 46-year-old man, Azubuike Inya, has been allegedly murdered by his kinsmen at Amankwo village, Nkpoghoro community, in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Investigations revealed that the killing was occasioned by intra-communal crisis, involving the people of Amankwo village, in the Afikpo North Council and one Chief Donatus Ezeogo Ajah (aka Zentus).

It was gathered that the deceased’s alleged killers, approached some villagers who were relaxing in a drinking joint, at the village and inflicted machete cut on them; a development that threw the area into chaos.

The late Inya, on hearing the cries of the people at the bar, rushed to the scene and started begging the attackers to desist from what they were doing.

 It was at that point, our correspondent gathered, that the assailants attacked him with their machetes until he died at 8:22pm on May 23, 2020.

An eyewitness, Mr Joel Obila, who spoke to The PUNCH, said, “When these people came and could not find my elder brother, who I think was their target, they started attacking everyone there. And people were running helter-skelter.

“That was when Azubuike Inya came from inside the village. He pleaded with them not to do such a thing, that it was not good. They (the Zentus’ boys) attacked him, and they killed him with their machetes.

“It was Zentus’s boys that killed Azubuike and it was on the 23rd of May, around some minutes past 8pm.”

Though efforts to get Zentus’ reaction were futile, one of his friends, who pleaded anonymity said he (Zentus) was not involved in the killing.

The Divisional Police Officer, in Afikpo, Mr Livinus Nwenyim, confirmed the incident, on Monday morning.

Nwenyim, who said about five suspects had been arrested over the matter, added that the deceased had since been deposited in the mortuary of the Mater Misercodae Hospital, Afikpo.

“Yes. It is true. The situation is a very unfortunate one. We have arrested five persons in connection with the incident.

“This very (Monday) morning, we would be moving the suspects to the Ebonyi State Police Headquarters, Abakaliki. Yes, we want to transfer the matter there. We just finished having our meeting over this matter now,” he said.

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