One person has been killed and houses razed following a communal clash between Ndieguzu Agalegu Omege and Ukwu Inyima communities in the Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The incident happened over the weekend but in a statement on Monday, the spokesman of the Ebonyi State Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, said that two youths from the communities fought.
One of them from Omege was stabbed and later died at the hospital.
Ukandu noted that the incident led to many injuries after suspected hoodlums attacked the community.
He stated that police mobilised and stopped them from inflicting further damage, noting that normalcy has returned as the suspect who stabbed the victim to death has been arrested.
“His death led to members of his community attacking Omege and burning down some mud houses with thatch roofs.
“But Police mobilised and stopped them from inflicting further damage. The crisis has been curtailed at the moment. Meanwhile, police have arrested the suspect who stabbed the victim to death, and investigation is ongoing to unravel the root cause of the clash.”
The crisis escalated as a result of a fight that happened in November 2024, after the burial of a woman raped and killed by some unknown persons.
This has led to more than 10 houses and properties worth millions of naira being burnt to ashes.
However, the Ebonyi State government is aware of the incident and has taken crucial steps to address the situation.
The Commissioner for Information Jude Chikadibia-Okpor noted that it was a misunderstanding between two youths from the villages that degenerated into a free-for-all fight and resulted in the unfortunate incident.
“It was a misunderstanding between two youths from the villages you mentioned that degenerated into a free-for-all fight and resulted in the unfortunate incident,” he said. “However, it has been brought under control.”
