Calm returns after youths burn hotel over woman’s murder in Edo

The police also confirmed yesterday that it was on the trail of the suspect, while it called for peace in the community.Angry youths reportedly razed down a hotel and a building belonging to the suspect last Friday over the killing.

After days of tension over the killing of a middleaged woman in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local council of Edo State by an allegedly drunk driver, identified as Onesi Obende-Okuru, calm have returned to the community as family members of the deceased and the alleged killer were sighted in several meetings trying to mend fences.

The police also confirmed yesterday that it was on the trail of the suspect, while it called for peace in the community.Angry youths reportedly razed down a hotel and a building belonging to the suspect last Friday over the killing.

The deceased had joined other women on a peaceful march round the town over what they termed strange happenings in the community and to also pray for protection for those that would participate in an annual festival called Aba which ceremonies began on Wednesday.

It was gathered that there have been increased cases of criminal activities relating to ritual activities and sudden ostentatious livestyles of some young persons whose sources of livelihood were questionable.

The Guardian gathered that the women had through the town crier instructed that all men in the community should retire to their houses on the fixed date by 8p.m. as those of them that have passed menopause were expected to lead the procession naked while others were to accompany them clothed.

The procession was said to have had the blessing of the traditional ruler of the town, the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Adeche Saiki.However, tragedy struck when the deceased woman was knocked down by a motorist, suspected to be owner of the hotel. The suspect was also said to have run over the woman, after she was knocked down before speeding away.

He was said to have quickly drove to his hotel, packed his things and locked the entrance gate before zooming off.Irked by the news of the woman’s death, youths in the area stormed the hotel and set it ablaze. Several valuable property belonging to the suspect were also destroyed by the youths.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of the area expressed sadness over the incident but noted yesterday that normalcy had been restored.The Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the incident, said that the security agency was on the trail of the suspect.