| A vehicle set ablaze by the rampaging youths |
Youths of Amaise, Umuokereke Ngwa, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State marched on the streets yesterday to protest the murder of their kinsman, Chimaobi Uzoukwa, who was reportedly killed by a soldier.
It was learnt that the soldier trailed the deceased to his father’s compound in Amaise, Umuokereke Ngwa. After attacking Chimaobi, he hopped on a waiting motorcycle driven by another soldier and left convinced Chimaobi would not live.
Reports said the soldier, whose identity was still unknown as at last night, allegedly killed Chimaobi for refusing to pay a N100 daily toll to him.
It was learnt that this angered the youths who stormed the Army outpost at Ohanze in Obingwa council and set it ablaze after soldiers manning the post ran away on receiving information that the mob was heading their way.
The youths, after setting the army outpost ablaze, took Chimaobi’s body to Opobo road and set ablaze a stationary police van inscribed with Mopol 55.
The protest caused pandemonium in the area, forcing businesses to close abruptly, while drivers and commuters abandoned their cars and fled to safety.
Some residents of Ogbor Hill said they trekked home as tricycle operators and commercial buses plying the route refused to leave their loading bay.