One dead in Ebonyi village headship tussle

One person has been killed while a dozen others were wounded in a clash between rival groups in Igbagu community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state.

Also, properties worth billions of naira were destroyed in the clash. The Nation gathered that the crisis which started at the early hours of Tuesday is a tussle over the headship of the village.

The Special Assistant to the state Governor on Internal Security, Hon. Kenneth Ogbala disclosed this to our reporter in Abakaliki.

Hon. Ogbala, who condemned the killing and incessant communal crisis in the state, accused some individuals of Igbagu community who had an interest in the headship of the village of forming the division among youths who went out to cause the mayhem.

He, however, pointed out that issue of who becomes the village head is already a matter before the court but due to impatience, some individuals took the law into their own hands to foment a crisis.

Mr Ogbala revealed that over 7 suspects have been arrested by the Nigeria Police force in the state over the incident.

His words: “It is just common issue among the villagers, they had the issue of village headship, the matter currently is in court but like you know some people did not have patient and allow the judiciary to settle the matter.

“So some villagers formed themselves into 2 groups and started fighting each other over the village headship. I visited there today and I saw vehicles and houses worth millions of naira destroyed. I was however told that one person lost his life in the crisis and dozens wounded. But normalcy is gradually returning to Igbagu community”, he explained.

“And now the police have arrested about 6 or 7 persons in connection with the crisis at Igbagu community, so we are thoroughly on top of the situation,” he assured.