Irate Abia youths demolish house of septuagenarian who killed man for playing football in front of his house

Angry youths have demolished the house of a 70-year-old man for the murder of a youth in Ohokobe Ndume, Umuahia, Abia State.

The suspect identified as Stephen Irobunda, shot and k!lled one Bright Odizuru, 30, for playing football in front of his house on Saturday, November 2.

Youths of the community demolished the building on Tuesday, November 5, and also destroyed other property belonging to the suspect. 

Sources from the village who spoke to journalists said due to the limitation of movement by the state government because of the Local Government election on Saturday, some youths were playing football during the election near the suspect’s house. 

According to sources, the old man had earlier warned them to stop playing football close to his house but was ignored by the youths which angered the suspect. 

“After the old man had warned them several times to stop the football, the youths refused, leading to a tense argument between the aged man and the youths,” the source narrated.

“The old man in order for him to forcefully stop the youths from playing football went inside his house, brought out his dane gun and fired in the air to scare them away but the youths after running away regrouped and went back to Irobunda house to find out why he was trying to intimidate them with gunshots.”

The source further disclosed that at that point after a heated argument, the suspect drew his gun again and shot one of the youths in his abdomen, leading to the death of Bright Odizuru.

The death of the young man angered the Ohokobe Mbaocha youths who pounced on the suspect and attempted to lynch him before he was rescued by security agents. 

The irate youths also tried to set his house ablaze, but were calmed down by the security agents. 

The spokesperson of Abia State Police Command, ASP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident.

“Following information to the Ehimiri Police Station, the police went in and rescued the suspect from a mob that was about to lynch him, adding that investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department.