A tragic family dispute over a mobile phone charger has resulted in the death of a young man in Anambra State. The incident, which highlights how minor disagreements can escalate into fatal violence, occurred in the Ihiala community.
Fatal Argument Over Borrowed Charger
The victim, identified as 20-year-old Chisom Uba, was killed on December 17 after a confrontation with his cousin, Chukwuemeka Uba. The conflict began when Chisom went to retrieve a phone charger he had earlier lent to his relative. What started as a simple request quickly turned into a heated disagreement.
Reports indicate that the verbal argument degenerated into a physical fight. During the violent altercation, Chukwuemeka Uba allegedly produced a knife and stabbed Chisom multiple times. The situation worsened when the suspect's father, Kenneth Uba, who is also the victim's uncle, joined the assault on his nephew.
Community Outrage and Arrests
The combined attack proved fatal, and Chisom Uba succumbed to his injuries. Following the incident, local youths in Ihiala expressed their fury by setting the house of the uncle, Kenneth Uba, on fire. This act of arson underscores the deep community anger triggered by the killing.
Both the primary suspect, Chukwuemeka Uba, and his father, Kenneth Uba, were subsequently apprehended by law enforcement agents. A video circulating online shows the aftermath, with the deceased lying on a hospital bed as grieving relatives mourn around him.
A Mother's Anguish and Call for Justice
The victim's mother, Prophetess Ebere Uba, spoke in front of the burnt house, expressing her profound grief and shock. "Because of a charger, they took my child inside and killed him," she stated. "They killed him inside the room with a knife. A new knife. The youths brought the knife out of the room."
She confirmed that her son's body has been deposited in a mortuary while the police investigation proceeds. This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked anger and violence, even within families.
