It was a chaotic Wednesday in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State as angry youths from Amaise, Umuokereke Ngwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state took to Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway in protest of their kinsman identified as Chimaobi Nwaogu Uzoukwa who was reportedly killed by a soldier serving in the state.
Uzokwa, it was learnt that the soldier after trailing and killing the deceased at his father’s compound in Amaise, Umuokereke Ngwa hopped into a waiting motorcycle driven by another soldier and left the victim in the pool of his blood having being convinced that the deceased would not make it alive, even if there was attempt to rush him to any medical facility for treatment.
Reports from the area have it that the soldier whose identity is yet-to-be known at the time of this report allegedly killed Mr. Uzoukwa for refusing to give N100 daily toll to the soldier.
Our reporter learnt that action of the soldier, angered youths of the area who stormed the army outpost at Ohanze in Obingwa LGA and set it ablaze after soldiers manning the post took to their heels on receiving information that the mob was heading to their location.
The youths after setting the army outpost ablaze to register more their grievance took the body of the deceased to Opobo road, off the heart of the commercial city where they reportedly set ablaze a stationary Police van with Mopol 55 inscription at the ever busy Opobo junction.
Investigation by our reporter has it that the protest by the youths caused pandemonium in the area, forcing businesses to closedown abruptly, while drivers and commuters using the affected roads were forced to abandon their cars and take to safety to avoid the wrath of the rampaging youths.
Some of the residents of Ogbor Hill when contacted told our
When our reporter visited the scene, burn fires made with disused tyres and other object were seen at various points on Ikot Ekpene Road, just as the police van was still on fire.
At 6.15pm, contingent of mobile policemen reinforcement were seen standing at various strategic areas of the Opobo Junction, apparently to wade off any group of protesters from converging in the area.
A family member of the deceased and former Chief Press Secretary to former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha; Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa in a telephone chat confirmed the death of the deceased whom he described as quiet and calm.
Mr. Uzoukwa said “That boy is married and operates as a commercial motorcyclist. Very jovial and social, Eze as fondly called is calm and respectful. It is very painful after complaining about the unwholesome and criminal extortion of these soldiers mounting roadblocks at Afo Di Mkpa Ohanze and Ukpakiri, the people concerned were undecided and unperturbed to act towards protecting the lives of their own people. It is very sad.
“He (the deceased) was trailed by the soldier for refusing to pay N100 and shot him in his father’s compound. What is his crime? Did he kill or go into robbery. He is from the same Agalaba part of Obingwa where the Governor comes from and the same Agalaba where the majority leader of the Abia State House, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu comes from. We will surely get to the roots of this act of wickedness.”
