A football team match that took place in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State yesterday turned bloody as police officer allegedly shot 2 dead while other fans sustained bullet wounds following a squabble that ensued between them and some youths.
It was gathered that one Obinna Igwe was shot dead instantly while unconfirmed report revealed that another victim whose name is yet to be ascertained at the time of filling this report later died at the Federal Medical Teaching Hospital, FETHA, in Abakaliki.
The bloody football match was between Ndufu Alike and Ndufu Echara Teams which was the final of a Unity Cup competition organized by the Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Elder John Nnabo at Urban Secondary School Ndufu Echara.
An Eyewitness who spoke to DAILY POST but wants his identity concealed noted that the fracas started when the Centre Referee issued a red card to an Ndufu Alike player which eventually resulted into his team conceding a goal in the second half.
According to him, the development did not go down well with the dismissed player as he returned to the pitch and launched attack on the centre Referee along with other players on the bench.
“The assault on the Referee by the Ndufu Alike Player who was issued a red card resulted to a serious fight. This situation made one of the police officers to start shooting sporadically into the air while another who was at the gate seeing what was happening started running to the scene and opened fire straight on the fans resulting instant death of one person while others who sustained bullet injuries were taken to the hospital,” he stated.
The eyewitness further alleged that the incident made the youths of Ikwo to have showdown with the police, narrating that it took the intervention of some public office holders in the area to remedy the situation.
One of the stakeholders of the area, Mr Onyekachi Nwoba who spoke to journalists condemned the use of live ammunition by the police, pointing out that their action was not in line with rules of engagement.
DAILY POST learnt that two police officers were also injured during the incident and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
When contacted, the Ebonyi State Police command spokesperson, Mrs Loveth Odah alleged that the fan was killed when the rampaging youths attempted to snatch a rifle from one of the policemen.
Mrs Odah explained that normalcy had returned to the area as the Commissioner of Police in the state had deployed more policemen to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
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