One person has been declared dead in
Rumuji Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State after a youth leadership dispute turned violent among the two factions contending for positions.
The victim, Mr. Paul Oduveh, a supporter of one of the leading youth leaders at the centre of the crisis was stabbed by one of the supporters of the other leader, but
was reportedly rushed to the hospital but died on the way.
Following his death, his friends in retaliation, angry youths allegedly set fire to the palace of the community’s traditional ruler, Eze Christian.
Findings reveal that problem started during a meeting convened by a company operating in the area to discuss how to kickstart a mini-power generating plant built for the community
Before then, a crisis had been brewing over the leadership of a youth group shortly after the chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, appointed a new youth president, without allegedly consulting the community’s stakeholders.
He was said to have replaced the incumbent youth leaders, a development that was outrightly rejected by some youths who accused him of neglecting the relevant stakeholders and traditional rulers in making key decisions.
Anele Ogbu, the current youth leader, whose supporter was killed claimed that
masked men, allegedly backed by some community members and local vigilantes, of attacking him and destroying his property.
He appealed to security agencies and government authorities to intervene urgently to prevent further loss of lives.
“If nothing is done, more youths may lose their lives,” Ogbu warned, expressing concern over alleged political interference in youth leadership matters.
The spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, was yet to comment on the incident.
Recall that a group, the Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership had written an open letter to Governor Siminialayi Fubara over the decision of to sideline monarchs in decision making.
Although the group was particular about the happenings in Umudioga Community in the same Emuoha LGA, the incident in Rumuji is similar to what obtains across the communities in the area, claims a source.
The group also claimed that Lloyd of dissolving Community Development Community (CDCs) and appointing new membership without the backing of traditional rulers and other stakeholders, stressing the need for the governor to intervene to avert crisis.
