Tragedy as gunmen invade Delta community, behead chief, injure others

Residents of the Ase-Omuku community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, have cried out over the invasion of the community, the beheading of one Chief Okwudili Obi, and injuring of others by unidentified gunmen.

The incident occurred at 3:00 am on Wednesday, 08/02/2023 when the gunmen invaded the community and beheaded the victim and shot others.

Mr. Victor Enebeli, youth President and younger brother to the deceased, who briefed newsmen in Ase-Umoku on Friday, condemned the ugly incident which took place on Wednesday.

He stated, “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 a 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 solder men, a Major and other in kwale. The Major has been confirmed dead. Unfortunately, the gunmen’s vehicle developed a fault at Ashaka and they abandoned their vehicle and escaped.

“Three other injured persons are in the hospital, whom the gunmen think you were dead. The gunmen went to the hospital Breman hospital by the Kwale roundabout to kill the injured people who were receiving treatment, to remove all evidences, unknown to them there was an army 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 the 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 community source urged the Delta State Government and its security outfit Operation Delta Hawk to commence a thorough investigation on the incident and arrest persons involved in the senseless killing and beading of an innocent Chief Okwudili Obi by gunmen.

The Delta State Police PPRO, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed the incident but declined comment on the killing of military and police officers in the incident.