A 70-years-old man, Mr. Stephen Irobunda, narrowly escaped lynching after allegedly shooting and killing a young man, Mr. Bright Odizuru, during an altercation on Saturday.
According to community sources, the incident unfolded when Odizuru and other youths were playing football near Irobunda’s residence on local government election day. Angered by the noise, Irobunda allegedly fired a warning shot into the air to disperse the youths. The situation worsened when the youths reportedly returned to confront him over the gunfire, prompting Irobunda to allegedly draw his firearm again and fatally shoot Odizuru in the abdomen.
Odizuru was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries, sparking outrage among the local youth. In retaliation, a group of youths reportedly attacked Irobunda, attempting to lynch him before security forces intervened and took him into custody. The crowd, still agitated, also attempted to set Irobunda’s house on fire but were ultimately restrained by security personnel.
ASP Maureen Chinaka, spokesperson for the Abia State Police Command, confirmed the incident. “Police have received reports, and the crime scene has been visited. An investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID),” she stated.
This tragic event has heightened tensions in the community, with residents calling for justice and calm as police continue their investigation
