There has been tension in Amaekpu Ohafia community in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State following a clash between youths of th...
It was gathered that some policemen had beaten the victim to death while trying to arrest him for allegedly injuring a fellow hunter during a hunting expedition.
A source described Okowu as a jovial, caring and peace-loving man, who was not known for trouble in the community.
He added that some months back, Crossca, who was the Chairman of Ohafia Hunters Association, a registered group with the Ohafia council, went on a hunting expedition with some of his colleagues when the incident occurred.
The source said, “Some pellets hit one of his colleagues, Agwu Oba, alias Aliko, in the leg. He was taken to Ebem Hospital, where he was treated and later discharged.”
Aliko was alleged to have reported the case to the police, which led to the arrest of the hunters who were with him when the shooting incident happened.
“They broke into Okowu’s house and allegedly hit him with guns. In the process, he collapsed. Efforts by doctors to revive him failed and he was taken to another hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical team at the hospital.
“Okowu’s death angered some youths, who descended on policemen in the area. But some soldiers were alerted and they intervened,” the source explained.
The traditional ruler of Amaekpu Ohafia, Prof. Emea Arua, called for calm in the community, assuring that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be prosecuted according to the law.
But the widow of the deceased, Kalu Nnoke, urged the government to ensure that justice was served on those found culpable as a way of assuaging the spirit of her late husband.
