“Angry Mob Lynches Worker After Deadly Argument Over 11-Month Salary Arrears”
Aba, Abia State – A heated argument over unpaid salaries at the Abia State Water and Sewerage Corporation (Water Board) turned deadly on Saturday, March 29, 2025, leaving two people dead in Aba South Local Government Area.
The tragic incident occurred at Ukaonu Street near NEPA, where Uche Onyekaba, an aggrieved staff member of the Water Board, engaged in a violent confrontation with another man over the prolonged non-payment of salaries.
Sources revealed that Uche, a native of Igbere in Bende LGA, was among over 20 workers whose salaries had been suspended by the Abia State Ministry of Power and Public Utilities since last year. The financial strain reportedly led to the death of two of his children due to his inability to afford medical care.
During the argument, Uche allegedly struck the other man with a stone, killing him on the spot. Enraged bystanders then turned on Uche, beating him to death before police could intervene.
The Abia State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the incident, stating that officers swiftly moved to the scene and recovered the two bodies.
“The altercation between the two individuals led to the death of one, while an angry mob killed the other,”Chinaka said. “The corpses have been deposited in a morgue, and investigations are ongoing.”
The incident has intensified frustration among Water Board employees, who have endured nearly a year without pay. Many fear the situation could escalate further if the state government fails to address their grievances urgently.
