Police arrest 10 youths over death of two persons, burning of council chairman’s house in Ebonyi
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Ebonyi Police Command says it has arrested ten suspects in connection to the burning of houses of the executive chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Chief Emmanuel Nwangele and that of his Special Assistant on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mr Okechukwu Onyibe, at Ebyia Unuphu community in Abakaliki LGA of the State.
A statement signed by the Command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Levi Philips, on Wednesday disclosed that the Council Chairman’s Aide, Mr Okechukwu Onyibe, had also being arrested.
Part of the statement reads, “Recall that, at about 10:00pm on the 19/09/2021 some Irate youth of Ebia Unuphu Community in their numbers invaded the houses of one Okechukwu Onyibe aka Bosco and one Emmanuel Nwangele ‘m’ the Chairman of Abakaliki LGA from Ebyia Unuphu Community, set their houses ablaze on the allegation that Bosco who owns Bosco Guest House in Abakaliki caused the death of one Oluchi Nwibo ‘m’ aged 18yrs a youth from the Community.
“Same youths mobilized to Bosco Guest House along Hatchery road Abakaliki in a bid to set the guest house ablaze, but they were repelled by Police Operatives on ground.
“In the early hours of 20th September, 2021, the same youths of the Community regrouped to further carryout their nefarious act of setting the Bosco guest house ablaze but were quickly repelled by security Operatives on ground.
“Unfortunately during a gun duel which ensued between security operatives and Irate youths who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, one Pastor Emeka Ogbonna ‘m’ aged 45yrs who reside 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.
“About ten (10) of the aired Irate youths who took part in the burning of the houses have been arrested and the SA to the Chairman Okechukwu Onyibe aka Bosco is also in Police custody. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the main cause of the chaos.” The State Police Commissioner, according to the statement, commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the ugly incident which ensued among the youths of irate Ebyia Unuphu community in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
