A young man, identified simply as
Peace, has been inflicted with series of machete cuts injuries after fighting
his former lover’s new guy at the Amaoba-Ime, Umuahia area of Abia State.
Eye witnesses said that Peace and his
opponent, Divine Ndudim aka Defence, were rushed to Federal Medical Centre
(FMC), Umuahia, Abia State, after a bloody fight over a lady called Felicity
Ogechi.
While Peace had his forehead and
nose sliced, Ndudim sustained a swollen hand and had internal bleeding.
Eye witnesses are however insisting
that it was Ndudim’s brother, who attacked Peace with a machete. He was said to
have attacked, after witnessing how Peace used a stick to attack Ndudim because
of Ogechi.
The incident, which occurred at
Amaoba-Ime, Ikwuano, Umuahia, has plunged the community into shock.
Some of the elders in the community
said that it was a taboo for two persons from the same village to fight and shed
blood. The taboo is called ‘Erim.’
The consequence of that spilling
blood is death; if a spiritual cleansing is not quickly carried out.
Peace was Ogechi’s former lover
until he started using her as a punching bag. Ogechi borne the beatings until
Peace called it quit between them.
It was gathered that several
attempts made by Ogechi to start a new relationship always failed because Peace
would threaten and sometimes attack every prospective lover.
Ndudim, who just came from Lagos
State to the village, saw Ogechi and fell in love with her. He expressed his
feelings for her and she accepted.
The relationship was already
beginning to take root, when Peace heard about it and went after Ndudim.
Witnesses said that Peace took to
attacking and beating Ndudim. Ndudim bore the beating and humiliation. One
fateful day in April 22, Peace came to attack Ndudim again, but got more than
he bargained for.
A member of the community, who
didn’t wish to be mentioned, said he witnessed the incident.
He said: “It was Peace that started
the trouble. He has been harassing Ndudim for long. Peace is a former lover of
Ogechi. He used to beat her every day. He was also the one that told Ogechi
that it was over between them. After breaking up with her, he refused to allow
any guy to date her in the community. Peace used to harass and threaten any guy
that wants to date Ogechi. Peace even threatened to kill Ndudim if he sees him
with Ogechi.
“On the eve of the fight that led to
the machete being used, Ndudim was seeing Ogechi off, when Peace suddenly jumped
out from the bush and as usual pounced on Ndudim. He beat him up. The following
morning, Peace saw Ndudim and this time, attacked him with a stick.
Unfortunately, Peace attacked Ndudim in the presence of his brother. The
brother ran and returned with a machete and attacked Peace.”
The machete cuts were so severe that
Peace was rushed to the hospital, where his injuries were stitched to save him
from bleeding to death. Ndudim, who was attacked with a stick, was also taken
to hospital. Doctors said he has internal bleeding and that the blood would
have to be sucked out to save his life. Family members of Ndudim were said to
have been spending a lot of money on medical bills since the incident. The
matter was later reported to the police and investigation started.
The incident between Peace and Ndudim
spread after a closed group, ‘Amaoba My Home For Life,” shared it on its
Facebook Wall.
Some of the group members, who are
from the same community as Peace and Ndudim, have expressed shock and revulsion
over the bloody incident.
Mazi Emeka Ijiomah was the first
outraged person to share the post.
He said: “Sometimes I wonder how we
came to this point. We used to be a safe community. Today, I’m not really sure what
to say. This boy (Peace) was cut in this form by a fellow Amaoba boy and the
reason behind all the fighting is a girl! A girl none of them have not paid a
bride price. Our norms and values as a community is failing us because we no
more teach our children that we have a power, ‘Erim,’ in place to checkmate the
spilling of blood of a fellow brother.
“The church might say that things
like Erim are ineffective, but the same pastor wouldn’t attempt to spill blood
because he too fears Erim. Why should our people fight to this level over an
unnecessary issue? We should begin to educate our children about our norms and
values. Erim is real and whosoever
thinks he or she will spill blood without atonement is joking. Let the family
of these boys do the necessary thing before they put a lot of people in danger.”
Orji Queeneth said: “The young man
is alive. He is receiving treatment at FMC Umuahia. He saw his former lover with
another guy and beat the guy up. He did
it on the first and second day. On the third day, the new guy was fully
prepared for him. He still went ahead to beat him up. The new guy retaliated.”
Onochie Mark noted: “Peace got what
he asked for; how can you date a girl and after breaking up with her, you think
that other guys won’t date her as well? He always beats her whenever he sees
her with other guys. I think he deserves it.”
Sunday Amajor said: “Now is the time
we all need to live as one. We need to protect the interest of our community Amaoba
against the internal and external forces that want to disintegrate the love our
forefathers once had. If my brother could be this heartless to hurt my fellow
brother this way, then he doesn't worth being my brother. And I do think the
entire community should stand up against the act perpetrated by that guy and
see to it that he faces the full wrath of the law.”
Deborah Ikpeka opined: “When you
have children out of wedlock, and mothers, who are not willing to teach their
children the ways of God, and fathers who are less concerned about what their
children become, such is the inevitable. Many of them are idle; only looking
for ways to sell property. Quick money does not pay. Go to school and get busy
meaningfully.”
Awiza Ohuegbe adds: “Whether lies or
truth, our people, especially the younger ones, should eschew violence and have
respect for elders. These young people should be told about the natural laws of
shedding or spilling bloods in Amaoba. We have Erim, which is very deadly.”
No comments:
Post a Comment