PDP chieftain killed as police arrest 3 suspects in Delta

The suspects, Junior Dele, Emma Francis and Ejoke Onome from Ughwagba community have been transferred to the Delta State Police Command headquarters, Asaba, for further investigation.

The deceased, Mr. Okugbeni, a local government chairmanship prospect, was allegedly ambushed and assassinated by gunmen at about 9:00p.m in his tricycle in Ughwagba community, Okpe last weekend.

It was gathered that his death came shortly after the chairman of a local government area, had visited his executive members in the area on his ambition to re-contest.

The deceased was said to be returning home with a lady in his tricycle when he was waylaid by the assailants, who pumped several bullets into the chest and abdomen and abandoned his lifeless body in his tricycle.

The lady, Gloria Aragba, who was in the tricycle with the deceased during the ambush, was said to have also sustained bullet wounds.

It was gathered that the killing led to a crisis, as angry youths unleashed mayhem on the community.

It could not be ascertained whether the alleged lingering youth leadership crisis in the community was responsible for the killing or the visit of the incumbent chairman’s.

However, a source close to the deceased, said, “What l cannot confirm is whether the attack was as a result of the visit of the council chairman or the lingering youth leadership tussle that has existed over time, but it coincided with the day the council chairman came visiting the ward.

“We also believe that there are some highly placed persons in the community that we feel are behind the incident and we are calling on the police to do a thorough investigation, so that the culprits and those on the run are brought to book.”

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the three suspects, adding that the incident was under investigation by the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).