ABIA COMMUNAL CLASH: VIETNAM RETURNEE LOSES LIFE IN OLOKORO NEW YAM FESTIVAL VIOLENCE

Clash between Okwu and Umuajata communities claims one life, several injured as tensions escalate during annual festival

A tragic incident has unfolded in Abia State, Nigeria, where a communal clash between the Okwu and Umuajata communities in Umuahia has claimed the life of a Vietnam-based Nigerian, Samson Nwaubani. The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 27, during the annual New Yam festival in Olokoro, when a confrontation between a resident of Umuajata and another from Okwu degenerated into a fight.

According to eyewitnesses, the crisis escalated when youths from Okwu allegedly stormed the Umuajata community and destroyed properties. On the day of the festival, Samson and some Okwu youths were ambushed by suspected Umuajata youths while en route to the celebration grounds, resulting in a violent clash. Samson was stabbed in the neck and macheted in the arm, leading to his death.

Sources close to the matter revealed that some elders had intervened earlier to settle the differences between the two communities, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The incident has left one person dead and several others injured, highlighting the need for peaceful resolution of disputes between communities. The community is now grappling with the aftermath of the violence and the loss of a young life.

The incident has sparked concerns about the security situation in the state and the need for authorities to take measures to prevent such clashes in the future. As the investigation into the incident continues, the community is left to mourn the loss of Samson and seek justice for his untimely death.