By Deborah Nnamdi
A junior secondary school student of Ugboro Secondary School in Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State has allegedly hacked a 23-year-old man to death during a fight on Tuesday.
The student, identified only as Ogbeche, was said to have been fighting with a fellow student, Nicholas, at the close of school when the victim, known as Oshen, intervened to separate them.
An eyewitness, Lizzy, said Ogbeche became enraged, accusing Oshen of taking sides. He reportedly abandoned the fight, fetched a heavy local pestle used for pounding food, and struck Oshen on the head.
“When he picked up the pestle, people were shouting, asking him to drop it but he did not listen. He went ahead to hit Oshen on the head with it. You know the pestles we use here are very heavy, not like the ones in town. That was why it caused severe damage with just one strike,” she recounted.
Oshen collapsed and was rushed to a hospital in Ogoja but died later that night.
The deceased, said to be the son of the late Oshen Ushaka, a wealthy man in Bekwara, was buried in his family compound.
Residents also alleged that Ogbeche had a history of violent behavior, including attacking fellow students with a machete, though no casualties were recorded before this incident.
Police confirmed that the suspect has been arrested and remanded in Ogoja prison pending further investigation.
