By Joyce Onuora, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, Uchenna Inya, policemen, soldiers, a Magistrate attached to the state judiciary, Amaechi Nwakpa and many persons, yesterday escaped death in Nkomoro community, Ezza North local government area of the state.
The people of the community have been at war over kingship.
Inya went to cover the election/coronation of a new traditional ruler of the community when thugs attacked him and vandalized his corolla vehicle while returning to Abakaliki.
The thugs also attacked policemen, soldiers, a Magistrate Amaechi Nwakpa and some government officials including the Secretary of Ezza North local government, Mrs. Samuel Nweke, Chika Igboke and other officials and vandalized their own cars.
Also, no fewer than ten vehicles were damaged in the early hours of Saturday at Nkomoro Community, in Ezza North Local government Area of Ebonyi State during a coronation.
Many people escaped being killed but houses, motorcycles and other valuable properties were also burnt beyond recognition.
The attacked newsmen include Uchenna lnya, the Ebonyi State Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, Chinelo Okoro of Radio Nigeria Unity FM, Abakaliki and others.
They were hit with stones and other dangerous weapons while coming out from the coronation venue.
Policemen, soldiers, a Magistrate attached to the state judiciary, Amaechi Nwakpa and many persons also escaped being killed.
The people of Nkomoro community have been at war over the selection of a traditional ruler in the Area.
However, the hired thugs invaded the election and coronation of a new traditional ruler of the community and disrupted the exercise.
Some members of the community had objected to the letter from the state Ministry of Local Government and chieftaincy matters, which ordered the coronation of a former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Jacob Nwakpa.
The letter was read by Chika Igboke, the Coordinator of the Imoha Development Centre.
It was gathered that there was a court order restraining the election and coronation of a traditional ruler of the community.
Despite many pleadings that the exercise should not be held, Chief Jacob Nwakpa was coronated as the monarch
After the coronation, youths armed with weapons blocked the entry and exit points of Okpoku Eze secondary school venue of the exercise and started vandalizing vehicles.
Salient Times gathered that the angry youths went inside the community and burnt some properties.
When contacted for Inquiry, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, neither picked up several calls put across to him nor responded to text messages
