•We’ve arrested three suspects -Police
Protest rocked Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State last Friday, following the killing of a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr Felix Okugbeni, by unidentified gunmen.
Until his death, Okugbeni was the chairman of the party in Ward 4, Ughwagba community in Okpe Local Government Area.
It was learnt that Okugbeni was shot dead on his way home shortly after he and other party chieftains held a meeting with a politician in the state.
Sources said that the politician was riding in his tricycle (keke Marwa) with a lady, identified as Gloria, when the gunmen shot him.
It was gathered that the tricycle was riddled with bullets while the lady also suffered gunshot wounds and she is now receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
“The ward chairman was shot severally in the abdomen and chest by the gunmen until they were sure that he was dead before they fled the scene. The lady riding with him was also shot, but she did not die and is now being treated in a private hospital in an unknown location,” an impeccable source told our reporter.
The incident, The Nation learnt ignited protests in the community, which according to sources, is battling with a lingering leadership tussle in a local youth association.
Several houses were razed by a mob as residents fled the community for fear of being attacked or killed.
Another source said:’’ Okugbeni, after the visit of the politician, left the community on his tricycle and it was on his return home to his house in company of a lady that he was shot by suspected gunmen on his arrival, while the lady sustained bullet wounds.
“What l cannot confirm now is whether the attack was as a result of the visit of the politician or because of the lingering youth leadership tussle that has been on over time, but it coincided with the visit of the politician to the ward; that is why it has left tongues wagging on possible political undertone.
“There has been issue of youth leadership tussle in Ughwagba community, where some highly placed persons were trying to impose someone suspected to be a cultist on the community. The move was opposed by the deceased, who insisted that Ughwagba is a peaceful community and they cannot allow a cultist to take the leadership of the youth but whether that was what led to this killing is what I cannot say.
“We also believe that there are some highly placed persons in the community that we feel might be behind the incident and we are calling on the police to do a thorough investigation, so that the culprits and those still on the run are brought to book.
“What sparked the destruction and burning of houses by angry mobs was when the rumour filtered into town that the ward chairman had been killed, and probably the community youths suspected some persons who may have committed the crime.”
It was however gathered that the Orerokpe Police Division arrested some suspects in connection with the incident.
Police sources said the suspects were later transferred to the State’s Police Command headquarters, Asaba while manhunt has been launched for other suspects on the run.
Meanwhile, members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, led by Chief Dick Gberevbie and Mr. Adolor Gberevbie, have paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family of the slain politician.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka, said some suspects have been arrested, adding that the case is being investigated by the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Asaba.
