AFIA-OLU NNEWI: HOW TOCHUKWU IZUCHUKWU LOST HIS LIFE TRYING TO SAVE ANOTHER

Tochukwu Izuchukwu, a native of Umuogbo in Obiofia, Nnewichi in Nnewi, who was murdered yesterday, the 24th of August during the ongoing Annual Festival called Afia Olu Festival added toone of the tragedies common among the unmanaged situations that emanate from festivities in our clime.
In a tradition meant to foster peace and show gratitude to the creator for a bountiful harvest, and to promote the culture of brotherliness, Mr Izuchukwu was stabbed to death with a bottle, in an ensuing conflict between two groups.
It all started, when a clash between two groups of masquerades; one from Osakwe in Uruagu, and the other from Abubor in Nnewichi, went beyond the usual flogging contest between masqueraders. The fight which was in form of flogging, became a violent fight (as said by an eyewitness who preferred the condition of anonymity).
The victim who according to reports gathered was in a nearby bar drinking with friends, came to the scene trying to quell the dispute between the two masquerade groups was mistakenly stabbed by the masquerade who intended to stab his fellow masquerade.
A visit by anaedoonline.ng to the family home of the late Tochukwu in Obiofia Nnewichi left us with the sight of a woman sitting quietly, looking frail and sad, without any doubt of her been crying, although she managed to hold her emotions from betraying her.
She described the late Tochukwu Izuchukwu as her son, who was not a trouble maker, a thief nor a masquerader. Everyone around spoke of his good attitude and spoke good of him. She said her husband, his father was buried barely three weeks ago on August, 3rd 2018.
She narrated to anaedoonline saying that her son woke up on August, 23rd 2018, washed his clothes and left for the Afia-Olu festival. He was at a bar drinking at Orie-agbor in nnewi. She said, she was not there but was told that as he heard that two people were fighting, he went to separate them. One person broke a bottle and stabbed him, insisting he didn’t die immediately, but got up thrice to run away, falling down each time; with no one coming to his aid before he gave up.
On the police investigation, she said no one has been caught but she said the culprit is from Okpuno in Nnewichi and is currently on the run. She said her son is a trader in Lagos who happened to be around due to his father’s burial and her ill health, and was planning to return to Lagos after she recovered.
She advised that “people should not fight, fighting is from the devil, fighting is not good. Separating fight is not good because if Tochukwu had not gone to separate the fight he will still have been alive.”
When contact was made to the elder brother of the deceased, access was declined. However, we were assured of details of plans for the burial of the deceased.