Ebonyi youths butcher father of 3 over N2,000 fine

THERE was tension in Amorie village in Ozizza community of Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state, following the killing of a middle-aged man, Monday Ali Agha, by some angry youths in the community.

According to an eyewitness, “Agha, a father of three, was a victim of circumstance. He was killed when he went to rescue his brother, Agha Pius Okpara, from the rampaging youths who came to collect a fine of N2,000 for not participating in communal labour.”

Vanguard gathered that the victim was contacted on phone by his brother, Okpara, to come to his rescue. On arriving the place, arguments ensued which later degenerated into a fight.

According to the eyewitness, “the victim was alleged to have slapped one of the youths with flat of his cutlass and in reaction, the youths descended on him, took the cutlass and butchered him with it.”

The youths and elders of the affected village were said to have fled to neighbouring communities in Cross River State for fear of arrest.

Reacting to the incident, the state police spokesman, DSP George Okafor, who confirmed the incident, noted that some police officers were dispatched immediately to the area to maintain law and order.

According to him, the body of the deceased had been recovered and deposited in a morgue for autopsy.

He said: “Arrests have been made and those arrested so far have started giving the police useful information that will lead to the apprehension of all the suspects. Peace has been restored to the village and we are monitoring the situation.

“Those presently on the run will not run for long. I can assure you that we are going to get them.”

Meanwhile, the elders and leaders of Ozizza community, in an emergency meeting, described the killing as barbaric, insisting that it was never in their character to kill.

Also, the member representing Afikpo North-West state constituency, Mr. Kingsley Ikoro, who appealed for calm in the area, stressed that stakeholders of Ozizza and the police had already waded into the incident to ensure the restoration of peace in Amorie community.