HOME town of legendary writer Prof. Chinua Achebe, Ogidi in Anambra State is no longer at ease following the death of a youth leader, Chike Okoye.
The youth leader was said to have tried to evade arrest and lost his life in the process.
According to Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, “A suspect ran to evade Police arrest and in the process fell down while trying to scale the fence.
“He died in the hospital while receiving medical attention.
“Following the incident the youths went on rampage, but were peacefully dispersed and normalcy restored.
“Joint patrol is still ongoing and investigation has commenced so as to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.”
The victim, Chike Okoye, was said to be evading arrest when the police stormed his Umueze Alor village to arrest him and others over a land issue between the community and the Traditional Ruler, Igwe Alexander Uzo Onyido.
The incident, which coincided with this year’s Nwafor Ogidi annual cultural festival of the Ogidi community, occurred Thursday evening at the commencement of the week-long festivities.
Incensed by Okoye’s death, youths of Umueze Alor village made bonfires with used tyres, barricaded the ever-busy Onitsha-Enugu old road and made straight to Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital Morgue, Ogidi.
They were said to have seized Okoye’s corpse and rushed to the palace of the monarch where they deposited it and dispersed.
The corpse was later taken back to the morgue following the intervention of concerned elders of the community.
By SUNNY DAVID
