A magistrate and some journalists escaped death by whiskers when some assailants attacked them due to Ezeship tussle in Nkomoro Community of Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that no fewer than 10 vehicles, including those of soldiers, journalists, and magistrates, were destroyed as a result of the tussle.

The assailants attacked their victims with dangerous weapons and caused damage to other valuables such as motorcycles, tricycles, and houses.

An eyewitness who preferred to be anonymous noted that “my own was also affected, including that of a magistrate and Chief Jacob Nwakpa. Vehicles belonging to soldiers and journalists were also destroyed.”

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, Uchenna Inya, policemen, soldiers, a magistrate attached to the State Judiciary, Amaechi Nwakpa, and many others escaped death in Nkomoro community, Ezza North Local Government area of the state.

Other journalists attacked at the venue of the incident include Godwin Oguta and Chinelo Okoro of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, as stones were thrown at them, among other weapons.

The people of the Nkomoro Community of Ezza North LGA have been at war over kingship.

The Sun correspondent went to cover the election/coronation of a new traditional ruler of the community when thugs attacked him and vandalised 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 vandalised their cars.

The thugs were armed with weapons, including sticks, rods, stones, and other weapons.

Some members of the community had raised objections 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 Imoha Development Centre.

A member of the community immediately came out with a paper and said that there is a court order restraining the election and coronation of a traditional ruler of the community.

He pleaded that the exercise should not hold, but after his remarks, Chief Jacob Nwakpa was coronated.

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.

Vanguard gathered that the angry youths loyal to Oscar Nwafor went inside the community and burnt some properties. After vandalizing the vehicles.

As of the time of this report, no case of death has been made public. (Saturday Vanguard)