The people of Ase-Omuku community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State are presently in shock and have cried out over the invasion of the community by unidentified gunmen who beheaded one Chief Okwudili Obi and shot others.
The youth president of the community and younger brother to the deceased, Mr Victor Enebeli, who briefed Journalists in Ase-Umoku on Friday, condemned the ugly incident which happened on Wednesday.
According to him, “At 11:00 hour on Wednesday, 08/02/2023, the gunmen went to the house of one of our leaders at Umutu because he was their prime target. But, when they could not get him because he was not at home, at about 3:00 am, some dissident community members led the gunmen into the community and started shooting, they shot for almost one hour, killing a community Chief Okwudili Obi and cutting off his head. They also killed one other young man, stray bullet hit a young boy of 13 years with the mother, killing the boy, the mother is in the hospital.”
Enebeli commended the military men at Sterling Energy Exploration and Production Company (SEEPCO) for their prompt intervention to chase the gunmen out of the community.
“As the gunmen were running out of the community, they shot a Policeman dead at Ashaka and also shot two soldier men and a Major in kwale. The Major has been confirmed dead. Unfortunately, the gunmen’s vehicle developed fault at Ashaka and they abandoned their vehicle.
“Three other injured persons are in the hospital, whom the gunmen shot thinking they were dead. The gunmen actually went to the hospital, Breman hospital by the Kwale roundabout to kill the injured people who were receiving treatment there, so as to remove all witnesses, unknown to them there was a soldier checkpoint there, and they shot the Major and another soldier.”
Enebeli condemned the incident and described it as barbaric and inhuman, noting that irrespective of differences among the indigenes of Ase Umoku community, it should not lead to the killing of fellow indigenes.
He said the relevant authorities including the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army were already informed and are aware of the incident.
A source in the community urged the Delta State Government and its security outfit, Operation Delta Hawk to commence a thorough investigation into the incident and arrest persons involved in the senseless killing and beading of an innocent Chief Okwudili Obi by gunmen.
The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident in a phone chat with NewsNet Nigeria but quickly said he was yet to get full details of the matter.
