Angry Youths Attack Community Leader Over Chieftaincy Tussle In South-south Nigeria

At least 12 persons were reported injured after angry youths in Ogwashi-uku community in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, set three houses ablaze following a chieftaincy tussle on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

According to The Guardian, the incident created an uproar in the Azungwu area of the community, as the irate mob stripped and molested the wife of Gabriel Ohai, the Odogwu (War lord) of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom.

Also, livestock and properties worth millions of naira owned by the Odogwu were reportedly  destroyed.

Police in the state however said only one person was injured during the incident. 

Bright Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer, when contacted by HumAngle  confirmed the incident and said one person sustained injuries.

“I know that there was a bit of chaos, but I am just being informed that one person was injured, not  12 people, I don’t know where that figure came from. And no one was raped too. I know that properties were destroyed,” Edafe said.

Gabriel Ohai, the chief whose properties were destroyed by the angry youths, said that the lawlessness and impunity in the community was a devilish act.

Ohai said the youths defied the presence of police officers who were drafted when the crisis started.

“Instead, they called their cohorts as early as 6:00a.m. to carry out the devilish acts and resist police arrest,” he said.

“Immediately the police left, the hoodlums moved in their numbers into my house, pulled down my gate, fence and move to my palace, set my house ablaze, stripped my wife naked, rape her, burnt down my two vehicles and moved to my farm, about 20 kilometres away from where I live, and set the building there ablaze.” 

An Azungwu community youth who witnessed the incident said the destruction was too much for Gabriel Ohai, the Odogwu.

According to him, the Odogwu’s personal houses and farms were set ablaze by youths loyal to a rival chief.