About three persons were feared dead in Irette Autonomous Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State following severe skirmishes between warring factions to the Ezeship tussle of the Community.
The exchange of blows and free usage of dangerous weapons by the warning factions characterized an exercise meant to select the traditional ruler of the Community.
Governor Rochas Okorocha in his resolve to settle Ezeship tussles in Imo State met with the affected communities which Irete people attended. At the end of the meeting, the Governor directed for an immediate election in Irete Community yesterday.
This directive was complied with as thousands of Irette indigenes, came out in droves to elect their new traditional ruler.
Among those eying the ezeship stool in the area include; Chief Ethel Ekwelibe, Anayo Okenwa, Enyinnaya Ibe, Jude Okenwa and Joseph Uzoma Ibe.
The panel mandated by the Imo State Government led by Eze Chidume Okoro, Chairman, Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, stormed the venue and opted for option A4 voting system. Option A4 entails voters/supporters line up in a queue behind their choice for the contentions Ezeship stool.
Trouble however broke out when the youths from Amaigbo Community backing one of the contenders, for the Ezeship stool, was leading the polls.
This attracted the fury of other contenders for the stool, as they caused commotion and confusion. This resulted in chaos as aggrieved youths, brandished dangerous weapons and items. It became a free for all fight as weapons such as bottles; daggers were brandished and freely used by the aggrieved youths who ostensibly were backing each of the contending aspirants.
In the ensuing melee, one of the youths was severely battered with bottle, while the other was chased into a nearby bush. Another person was also beaten to coma, before men of the State Security Service (SSS) fired gunshots to sacred away the feuding youths.
Trumpeta reporter who covered the event also escaped the scene by the stroke of luck as he ran for dear life when the situation went out of control.
