From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
It was a gory sight in the Obingwa area near Aba commercial city, Abia state, on Friday, as what began as a family misunderstanding later degenerated into killing, leading to the death of one person.
The deceased, whose name was simply given as Obinna, from Ekwerazu Ngwa, Obingwa Council Area, was allegedly macheted by a family member, Omerenma Ezekiel, and died from severe loss of blood that resulted from chopping off of one of his hands.
According to close village sources, Obinna’s younger brother, whose name could not be ascertained at the time of this report, was also macheted in the head during the scuffle.
It was gathered that Omerenma Ezekiel, who resides in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was called home by his mother who complained of encroachment into her portion of the family land by the deceased, leading her son to hastily return armed with a sharpened matchet.
An eyewitness who refused to be named said tension got heightened when on seeing Obinna, within the farm area, the woman held him by his clothes and began shouting and calling on her sons to come and avenge her for what she said was injustice done to her by taking part of her farmland.
On hearing their mother, Omerenma and one of his brothers rushed out and in an ensuing fight, cut Obinna’s hand with the machete, leaving it almost severed.
The deceased was confirmed dead at a nearby hospital, while his younger brother suffered a head injury. The alleged suspect, Omerenma, later ran away and has not been found.
The state police spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, a deputy superintendent of police, has yet to comment on the incident. However, a senior police source from Eastern Ngwa division, said a report had been made while efforts were on to commence a preliminary investigation into the killing.