Vietnam returnee k!lled in Abia communal clash

A Vietnam–based Nigerian, Samson Nwaubani, has been k!lled in a communal clash between the Okwu and Umuajata communities in Umuahia, Abia State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday, August 27, during the annual New Yam festival held in Olokoro after a confrontation between a resident of Umuajata and another from Okwu degenerated into a fight.

According to Punch, the crisis escalated when youths from Okwu allegedly stormed the Umuajata community and destroyed some properties.

On the day of the New Yam festival, Samson and some Okwu youths were said to have passed through Umuajata while en route to the celebration grounds.

A source privy to the incident told the publication on Sunday that they were ambushed by suspected Umuajata youths, thereby resulting in a violent clash.

The source said Samson was stabbed in the process, after which he slumped and d!ed on the spot.

“The New Yam festival holds in phases, and the one held last Tuesday was ongoing when a fight broke out between youths around the Umuajata area. We were later told that Samson and some men from Okwu were heading to the festival when some members of Umuajata attacked them. It was during the fight that he was st@bbed in the neck and also macheted in his arm before he bled to d3ath,” the source narrated.

Another source privy to the incident said that some elders had intervened earlier when the crisis began.

“What happened was as a result of a lingering dispute between the Okwu Olokoro and Umuajata Olokoro communities. When the problem started, the elders reached out to them to settle their differences. They also warned them against engaging in an act that could escalate the matter. Aside from the person who was k!lled, some people were also injured during the ambush,” the source narrated.