Mr Samuel Oyeh, whose son, Onome Oyeh, allegedly died from a gunshot fired at him during a recent operation by the Eku Anti-Cult Group has cried out for justice for his son’s death.
Recall that pandemonium broke out on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Eku community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State following a reported fierce clash between an anti-cult team and some cultists, which was triggered by the killing of a young man in the early hours of that day.
However, two weeks after the incident fresh facts have emerged about the circumstances that led to the death of Onome Oyeh, who was until his death a member of the Eku Vigilante Group and not a cultist as contained in a petition to the Delta State Commissioner of Police by the law firm of IKIMI OGHENEJABOR & CO.
In the petition dated May 15, 2023, and signed by Oghenejabor Ikimi, Esq., “Onome Oyeh, aged 23 years, a hairstylist and a member of the Eku Vigilante Group was shot to death by one Onomine Irikefe (alias Di-Rock) a member of the Orerokpe Anti-Cult Group at about 12:30 am on the 3rd of May, 2023 whilst carrying out his duty together with other vigilante in Eku main Town.
“Prior to the events of the 3rd of May, 2023, there was a dispute between one Mr Timothy Imiere, a member of the Eku Vigilante Group and one Mr Henry William, the head of operations of Eku Anti-Cult Group.
“The disagreement unknown to other members of the Eku Vigilante Group culminated in a supremacy battle unleashed by the Eku Anti-Cult Group on the wee hours of the 3rd of May, 2023 which led to the death of Onome Oyeh on guard duty.”
The petition went further to state that “1) DANIEL AGAH, the Commander of Eku Anti-Cult Group, 2) PAPAY EVANS, Zonal head of operations, 3) HENRY WILLIAM, head of operations, Eku Anti-Cult Group and 4) ALI GODWIN, Zonal Commander and others had on the late hours of 2nd of May, 2023 issued directives to other Anti-Cult Groups within Eku Town and her environs to converge in Eku Town for an operation within the wee hours of the 3rd of May, 2023 an operation the head of the Eku Vigilante Group never knew was targeted at him and his Vigilantes.”
According to the petition, “one Onomine Irikefe alias Di-Rock, one of the Anti-cult members that stormed Eku Town on the day of the incident from Orerokpe opened gunfire and shot Onome Oyeh on his right lap. The deceased died on his way to Oghara Teaching Hospital for treatment. A photograph of the Citizen Onome Oyeh is hereby attached for your action.
“Mr. Linus Odje, a nursing student on vacation, Mr. Lewis Odje, Mr. Obaro Akpovona and Mr. Nyerowho Emonieko all Vigilantes were arrested on the orders of Commander Daniel Agah head of the Eku Anti-Cult Group and subsequently handed over to Men of the Special Anti-Cult Unit (SACU) at the State CID, Asaba on the 4th of May, 2023 without any formal charge while the corpse of the deceased was dumped at the Okparavero Hospital Morgue in Sapele.”
Ikimi in the petition noted that “the Anti-Cult Group by law does not have the legal powers to bear arms, so one wonders why Men and Officers of the Special Anti-cult Unit and the Delta State Command allow this illegal Group to carry arms in public glare within the State.
“We have the instructions of our client to demand and WE HEREBY DEMAND that you order a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the above complaint of our client with a view to punishing any person found culpable for the murder of Citizen Onome Oyeh as justice delayed is justice denied.”
