60-year-old man stoned to death in Ebonyi

Members of an undisclosed church in Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state have stoned Philip Ugwu, a 60-year-old man, to death.

George Okafor, public relations officer of the command, told NAN in Abakaliki, capital of the state, on Monday that the incident occurred at Amebo-Ndebo village.

Okafor said Abani Ugwu, wife of the deceased, reported the matter to the police.

He added that one Tochukwu Okoh, an evangelist, had been arrested in connection with the incident.

He said the deceased’s wife alleged that Okoh and three others attacked her husband with stones.

The officer also quoted the widow as saying that her husband who could not withstand the attack eventually became unconscious and was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.

He said that his body had been deposited in a mortuary and would undergo autopsy.

Okafor said the divisional police officer for the area led a team of detectives and anti-crime patrol officers to the scene and arrested the suspect.

“We are currently on the trail of other suspects and I am sure that they will soon be arrested due to the useful information at our disposal,” he said.

“We assure the public that the matter will be investigated thoroughly while the culprits will be duly prosecuted.”

The victim, popularly called Boxer or Coach, had argued with the worshipers over the erection of a fence to demarcate their lands.

“We heard Boxer’s wife screaming that her husband had been attacked by some worshipers and before we could get to the scene, he was lying unconscious,” a witness said.

“He was immediately rushed to the hospital but his wife identified one of the attackers still with a stone who was immediately apprehended and handed over to the police.

“The victim’s wife explained that he had purchased and built on the parcel of land even before the church came to lay claim over it.”

The witness said that the matter had previously been reported to the traditional council during which the head pastor of the church, still at large, was invited.