Zara Nwachinemere, Abakaliki
Police In Ebonyi, Wednesday, said ten youths of Ebiya Unuphu Community, in Abakaliki local government area of Ebonyi state, have been arrested for the death of one Pastor John Onu, of Gospel Fire Assembly and setting ablaze of the houses belonging to the local government chairman and his aide.
On Sunday at about 10pm some Irate youths of Ebiya Unuphu Community had in their numbers invaded the houses of one Okechukwu Onyibe popularly called BOSCO and also the residence of Emmanuel Nwangele, the Chairman of Abakaliki LGA, and set it ablaze on the allegation that BOSCO who owns Bosco Guest House in Abakaliki instigated the death of an 18-year-old Oluchi Nwibo a youth from the Community.
As if that wasn’t enough, the youths the next day mobilized to Bosco Guest House along Hatchery road Abakaliki, in a bid to set the guest house ablaze, but they were repelled by the Police Operatives on ground.
According to the police Deputy spokesperson, ASP Levi Philips: “In the early hours of 20th September 2021, the same youths of the Community regrouped to further carry out their nefarious act of setting the Bosco guest house ablaze but were quickly repelled by security operatives on the ground.
“Unfortunately during a gun duel that ensued between security operatives and Irate youths who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, one Pastor Emeka Ogbonna, 45yrs who resides opposite the hotel was hit by a stray bullet and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on call”.
Philips, said the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State, CP Aliyu Garba while calling on residents of the State to remain vigilant and law-abiding, urged them to go about their lawful businesses.
He reassured the Command’s capability, resolve and commitment to deal decisively with trouble makers and any form of harassment or intimidation of innocent members of the public by any person or group of persons under whatever guise.
