There is palpable tension in Umuikaa community in Umuojima Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State following the unannounced death of a middle-aged man.

The deceased who was identified as Thankgod Emmanuel, a 26-year-old and indigene of Abala Ibeme in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state, but a resident in Umuikaa community, was allegedly killed by an indigene of the Osisioma community.

It was gathered that trouble started when the deceased, Emmanuel saw his alleged killer, Chiemela Chimeze, 28-year-old and indigene of the Umuikaa community with his stolen mobile phone and demanded that the phone be returned to him.

Reports have it that the refusal of the Umuikaa indigene to hand the said mobile phone over Emmanuel-led to a brawl between the two.

The accused was said to have, in the heat of the fight, used a knife to stab Emmanuel in the chest, causing him to bleed profusely.

Reports have it that Emmanuel died in the pool of his blood, forcing his relatives (some indigenes of Abala living in the Umuikaa community) to resort to reprisal as they launched an attack and set ablaze the family house of the said killer which housed some commercial shops.

THE NATION