Royal Stool Tussle Claims 5 Lives As Scores Sustained Serious Injuries

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Sunday, November 16th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Owerri

At least five persons were killed at Mgbala Agwa Autonomous Community, in Oguta council Area of Imo State on Saturday, just as over 70 people sustained various degree of injuries during a royal stool tussle.

The unfortunate incident, has also made scores of people in the area refuges in their father land, as they have been displaced from the community and made homeless.

African Examiner gathered that two men namely, Greg Uba and Eugene Ohamara, from the community had been locked in crisis over who should be crowned the traditional ruler of the community over the last five years.

Our Correspondent learnt that all efforts made to resolve the matter failed until Governor Rochas Okorocha, decided to force them to election, which Greg Uba won against Eugene Ohamara and one other aspirant.

However, the outcome of the election did not go down well with the losers who, it was gathered, had been seizing every opportunity to demonstrate that the new traditional ruler was not in charge of the affairs of the community, as they vowed not to recognise him.

According to sources in the troubled community, problem started when some of their indigens returned home last Sunday to collect their permanent voters card, PVC, but were chased back to their houses.

The sources added that shortly after they were chased back to their homes, a group of boys regrouped and returned to their various registration centres and a fight ensued between the supporters of the traditional ruler and his opponents, with weapons flying from nowhere and leaving no fewer than five persons dead.

Meanwhile, the crisis has forced members of the community who have been rendered homeless to flee to neighbouring villages, where they are now taking refuge and shelter.

However, the state commissioner of police, Abdulmajid Ali, the Brigade commander of 32 Artillery Brigade, Owerri, L. M. Bello, and some high powerful members of the state government have visited the community to ascertain the level of destruction of properties.

Imo state police public Relations officer, PPRO Andrew Enwerem, when contacted, said he was yet to be properly briefed on the crisis.