Angry youths from the Amakohia community in the Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State have set ablaze five houses belonging to suspected cultists, who allegedly murdered a pub operator identified as Mrs Uchechi Ogoke.
Uchechi, whose husband is based in Malaysia, died on June 30, 2020, as a result of machete cuts perpetrated on her by the hoodlums, who invaded her residence at night.
Sources in the area, however, alleged that Uchechi’s husband and his younger brother had a hand in her gruesome murder.
According to the sources, the deceased’s husband was uncomfortable with allegations that his wife was involved in extramarital affairs.
The husband and his younger brother, it was alleged, conspired with the hoodlums to kill Uchechi.
The attackers also inflicted machete cuts on Uchechi’s eight-year-old daughter and house help.
Though the two girls survived the attack, the machete cuts on the woman’s body left her with no chance of survival.
A source in the community, who spoke said Uchechi, who was in her late 30s, cried for help but nobody in the neighbourhood heard her as she was butchered to death.
The source stated, “Her eight-year-old daughter, who begged the assailants to spare her mother’s life, was also dealt machete blows. But she survived the attack after being rushed to hospital the following morning.
“The woman was operating a pub, where she also sold fresh fish pepper soup. The police have arrested some persons, including the younger brother of her husband.”
On the buildings that were destroyed, the source said, “The burnt houses belong to those suspected to be behind the killing of the woman.”
Another source stated that the irate youths, who sang war songs, razed five buildings on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, to avenge Uchechi’s killing.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the murder of the woman and said, “The matter is still being investigated.”
Ikeokwu said he could not immediately speak on the burning of houses by furious youths in Amakohia and the alleged arrest of the deceased’s brother-in-law.