A Pastor identified as John Onu has been alledgedly killed by a police stray bullet at his residence in Nkaliki, Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The sad incident reportedly occured during his morning devotion hour.
The incident took place in the early hours of Monday September 20, when police officers who were protecting a hotel belonging to one Chukwudi Onyibe, a Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Local Government on Internally Generated Revenue, opened fire at youths rioting in the area.
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The Pastor of Glorious Gospel Fire Assembly who was observing his morning devotion in his room at Hatchery Nkaliki road got hit by a bullets while he was trying to shut his windows.
The bullet was said to have hit him on the chest, pierced through his back.
It was gathered that the Youths of Ebyia Upnuhu village had gone on rampage, burning houses in the area after a native of the village was beaten to death allegedly by men of Ebube Agu security outfit who came to make some arrest in the area.
The Council Chairman’s house and that of his Aide, Mr Chukwudi Onyibe were also set ablaze in the village during the riot.
The rampaging youths also attempted to attack Abakaliki local government headquarters, Nakaliki but were dispersed by the security agents.
Hon. Emmanuel Nwangele, the Chairman of the local government, confirmed the incident saying;
“I was about to go to the village that night to calm the youths but some people around told me it was late that time; that it was better in the morning. It was after that that I was informed that somebody died and that they are rampaging to the extent that they came to one Bosco Guest House and they were dispersed by the police,” he narrated.
“They went back home and set ablaze houses. Swift reaction was that I was called that they also moved to my own house and also set it ablaze, destroying so many things. I said why? Because I don’t know the genesis of the problem. Late in the night, they also went back to that Bosco’s hotel. According to information, they were even trying to come to Abakaliki local government headquarters but security agencies prevented them. Then this morning, they repeated
“The owner of the guest house, Bosco, Chukwudi Onyibe is my SA on IGR. But information reaching me said that they conveyed Ebubeagu people to go and arrest somebody who stole something and on the way to that place, they had a clash with somebody who overtook their vehicle and from there, they had some squabbles and it was led by one soldier from that our village who was posted outside but returned to the village
“It was one of the Ebube Agu boys that they said that had encounter with them and Bosco wasn’t even with them, he was on the steering. This was what I was told, I don’t even know anything about it.” he added.
The second confirmation came from the Assistant Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Philip Levi though he said everything has been brought under control.
