Irate youths have destroyed the home of a 70-year-old man accused of murdering a youth in Ohokobe Ndume, Umuahia, Abia State.
According to LIB, the suspect, Stephen Irobunda, allegedly shot and killed 30-year-old Bright Odizuru for playing football in front of his house on Saturday, November 2.
On Tuesday, November 5, local youths demolished Irobunda’s house and damaged other properties belonging to him.
Villagers who spoke to reporters explained that, due to movement restrictions imposed by the state government for the upcoming Local Government elections, some youths were playing football near Irobunda’s home.
Sources indicated that the elderly man had previously warned the youths to stop playing close to his residence, but they ignored his requests, which provoked him.
“After the old man warned them several times to cease playing football, the youths refused, leading to a heated argument between him and the group,” a source recounted. “To force them to stop, the man went into his house, retrieved his dane gun, and fired a shot into the air to scare them away. However, the youths regrouped after initially fleeing and returned to Irobunda’s home to confront him about the gunfire.”
The source added that during a tense confrontation, Irobunda drew his weapon again and shot one of the youths in the abdomen, resulting in Odizuru’s death.
The incident incited fury among the youths of Ohokobe Mbaocha, who attempted to lynch the suspect but were thwarted by security forces.
While the enraged youths also tried to set Irobunda’s house on fire, security personnel intervened to calm the situation.
ASP Maureen Chinaka, spokesperson for the Abia State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating, “Following reports to the Ehimiri Police Station, officers intervened to rescue the suspect from a mob that was about to lynch him. An investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department.”
