By EMMANUEL IFEANYI, Aba

Tragedy struck in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State on Monday when a cyclist (Okada Rider) shot and killed a colleague over a plate of rice.

New Telegraph reports that the incident, which sent fear into residents, happened at Uzomkpa Street, in Amaiyi, Owerri-Aba, Ugwunagbo Local Government Area, at a local eatery popularly called ‘Mama-Put’.

An eyewitness told our reporter that the two cyclists and some of their colleagues came to the Mama-Put, popularly known as ‘Nwayi-Mmogho Spot’ to eat, while they were seated waiting to be served, another cyclist, identified as Chinenye, entered and demanded food.

A cyclist, popularly known as ‘Obereagu’, who was already there with other cyclists before Chinenye came in, told him that they were there before him and there is no way he will be served before them.

According to the eyewitness, their argument was corroborated by the food vendor who went ahead to dish food to the other group who had arrived before Chinenye, which got him angry.

The eyewitness said Chinenye started shouting that if the woman dares to serve food to them, he will cause trouble.

“Soon after they began to fight. The other cyclists joined to beat up Chinenye. He was beaten black and blue and went home humiliated and angry.

“The other boys were still eating when he came back on another bike (okada). The Obereagu noticed how he stormed the place wearing a hooded overall outfit and tried to run, but he was shot on the leg.

“With everyone running helter-skelter, Chinenye drew closer and shot him on the stomach and disappeared with the same cyclist who brought him.”

New Telegraph learnt that the boy was rushed to a hospital by residents, where he was pronounced dead by doctors on duty. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy New Telegraph)