Tension has gripped the Obosi community in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State following the tragic killing of Chidebe Ibeakuzie, popularly known as ?Mighty,? a youth leader, allegedly by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Mighty was killed during a violent scuffle between Obosi youths and security forces over the control of a tricycle park near the military cantonment in Onitsha.

The incident also saw two Obosi youths allegedly abducted, while an unspecified number of others sustained gunshot injuries.

According to sources, the conflict stemmed from a dispute between the family of the late Tochuckwu Anyaoku from Obosi and Hon. Edward Ibuzo, a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly.

Ibuzo claims ownership of the tricycle park, while Obosi youths argue that it was leased to their late brother, Tochuckwu Anyaoku, before his passing.

His wife had been managing the park since his death last year.

The Obosi youths have accused Hon. Ibuzo of hiring DSS operatives, whom they claim carried out the fatal shooting of Mighty.

However, Ibuzo, speaking via WhatsApp from Germany, denied any involvement.

He alleged that the DSS operatives were passing by when they encountered suspected kidnappers, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

A prominent Obosi stakeholder, Chief Omezie Chukwurah, also known as ?Governor Obosi,? revealed that he had made several efforts to prevent bloodshed over the tricycle park dispute but was unsuccessful. He further alleged that Ibuzo previously led a police team from Zone 13, Ukpo, which shot an Obosi youth in the head before this latest confrontation.

Chukwurah claimed that the attackers who killed Mighty arrived in two vehicles allegedly belonging to Ibuzo.

He also confirmed that the two abducted Obosi youths were later released around 2 a.m. at Afor Nkpor Market, their hands and eyes tied, leaving them with injuries.

Reacting to the crisis, the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Ogalagidi, Eze Iweka III), stated that he would wait for the outcome of investigations before making any declarations.

However, he warned that if the issue was not properly handled, it could reignite the long-standing land dispute between Onitsha and Obosi.

The President General of the Obosi Development Union (ODU), Barrister Chimezie Obi, dismissed any claims of a land dispute, stating that the real issue was an Onitsha man forcefully taking over a Keke park that had been leased to an Obosi man.

He lamented that Mighty was killed simply for supporting his fellow Obosi community member.

Obosi residents are now calling on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible for Mighty?s death to justice.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochuckwu Ikenga, stated that he was not yet aware of the incident. (Daily Independent)

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