Mob Beheads Man In Etche …14 Houses Razed, 14 Nabbed

A young man has been beheaded by a mob in Umuelem, a village in Odufor, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Also, the community has been deserted and several houses razed following a sequence of crises that erupted as a result of land dispute.

The Tide gathered that the young man identified as Egbuchulem Njoku had his head cut off while several persons were injured.

An authoritative source told The Tide that the brother of the late Egbuchulem had waylaid and beat up an old man who went to the farm last Thursday.

According to our source, the relations of the old man who were enraged by the action of the assailant as the old man was beaten to a state of coma, launched a reprisal attack the following day and in the process severed the head of Egbuchulem.

The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, who confirmed the development said 14 persons had been arrested.

A source from Okehi Police Division had earlier disclosed to The Tide that no fewer than 14 houses were burnt down as at yesterday.

However, eye-witness account has it that over 17 houses were burnt down including that of the community chief, Hope Amaonwu, while several persons received injuries.

Those arrested have been transferred to the State CID, in Port Harcourt for further investigation into the matter.

The community has been taken over by security operatives.

President Goodluck Jonathan (centre), Dame Patience Jonathan (right) and Governor Amaechi exchanging pleasantries during the funeral of late General Owoye Andrew Azazi in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Saturday.