The community of Ikwo in Ebonyi State was
thrown into mourning on Thursday, when
a 30 year old man, Obinna Igwe, a resident,
was shot dead in a fracas that broke out
during a football match, with two others
sustaining gunshot wounds.
Football fans were said to have clashed
with policemen stationed at the field.
The casualties included two police officers
who were deployed to the venue of the
match which took place at Urban Secondary
School Ndufu Echara Ikwo.
The football match was the climax of the
Unity Cup competition between Ndufu Alike
and Ndufu Echara Teams which was
organised by the Chairman of Ikwo Local
Government Area, Elder John Nnabo.
An eyewitness who withheld his name,
informed reporters at the scene that the
trouble started when the issued an Ndufu
Alike player a red card, this eventually
resulted in his team conceding a goal in the
other half of the match.
He explained that the dismissed refused to
settle for less, so he re-entered the pitch
and attacked the referee along with his
team mates from the bench.
He also alleged the clash resulted in a brawl.
Some of the youths of Ikwo then targeted
law enforcement agents, engaging them in
a fight, until some public office holders in
the area stepped in.
Mr Onyekachi Nwoba, a resident reacted to
the incident, condemning the use of live
ammunition by the police, saying that it was
against the rules of engagement.
The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations
Officer, Lovet Odah, when contacted,
claimed that the victim was killed when the
rampaging youth attempted to snatch a
rifle from one of the policemen..
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted Odah
as saying that several people were injured
during the fracas on Thursday.
‘The Ikwo Police Division received a
distress call that the fans were assaulting
the referee and our officers led by the
Divisional Police Officer rushed to the match
venue.’
‘When they tried to rescue the referee from
the fans’ onslaught, the fans left the referee
and started attacking our officers.’
They started struggling with officers’ rifles
and when they collected one, the DPO fired
into the air to scare them and save his
officers.
One person was incidentally shot during
the melee as the fans thoroughly prepared
to attack us by arming themselves with
dangerous weapons.

Source: journalng.com

https://journalng.com/2018/01/06/1-person-killed-2-policemen-wounded-ebonyi-football-violence/