Evwreni Killing: Twist As Police Recovers Gun From Monarch

Policemen from A-Division Ughelli, Delta State have recovered a locally made gun from the monarch of troubled Evwreni Kingdom, HRM Oghenekevwe Kumane few hours after the younger brother of immediate past Executive Director, Projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Engr Sam Adjogbe was shot and killed.

Three days after the gruesome murder of the 34-year-old Sylvester Adjogbe at his family compound in Evwreni, the Police like two previous killings in the community has not made any arrest, while those accused of having a hand in the dastardly act is walking freely in the community.

It would be recalled that trouble started at Evwreni on Wednesday July 1, afternoon after a failed attempt by the Police to arrest one suspect fingered in June 20 attempted assassination of Engr Samuel Adjogbe along the East/West road close to the community.

It was gathered that some youths from the community who were allegedly mobilized by the monarch prevented Police officers from State Criminal Investigation Department, Asaba, led by one John Agbajie, from arresting the suspect, one Atiri Stephen following Adjogbe’s petition.

The traditional ruler of the community had allegedly ordered the local vigilante and some of his loyalists to attack any relatives of Engr Samuel Adjogbe after the Police had been stopped from arresting the suspect. An incident that led to the death of Sylvester Adjogbe who was killed at his father’s house.

However, in a new twist, the Police stated in their report obtained by our correspondent that the locally made gun was handed over to them by the community king, HRM Oghenekevwe Kumane who alleged that the gun was recovered from Omamuyovwi Akpuruekpo, one of those injured in the attack and currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital at Ughelli.

Late Sylvester Adjogbe

It was gathered that  men from SCID Asaba led by ASP John Agbajie with the assistance of men from A division, Ughelli, arrived Evwreni community on investigation, but on arrival at the community, the team claimed they could not locate their suspect and where also confronted by a protest on their way out of the community.

Sources disclosed that Immediately the team left the community,  the vigilante Chairman of Evwreni contacted the DPO that there is a clash in his community and immediately another police team was dispatched to the community and upon arrival of the police teams, the king of Evwreni handed over a locally made gun and a suspect with multiple injuries on the head.

It was also gathered that while recording statement of the suspect identified as Omamus Akporuekpo who was handed over by the king, he allegedly made a confessional statement that he collected the locally made gun from the deceased at the scene before the community arrested him.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, when contacted confirmed “that one locally made gun was recovered,” and that the Police is still investigating the incident.

Reacting to the Police report, Mr Lucky Adjogbe, elder brother to the slain Sylvester accused the Police of being economical with the truth, according to him if the Police from A-Division in Ughelli is alleging that the locally made gun which was handed over to the king belongs to the deceased, who killed my brother, or did he shoot himself?

“We are calling on the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police CP, Delta State Police Command, Mr Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa to investigate the circumstance leading to the murder of my younger brother who is in his prime on the order of the king.

“We know that we will not get justice from the Police in A-Division at Ughelli, because they are more like an interested party in this case and the crisis at Evwreni. Are the Police saying that they are not aware that our brother was shot dead by one Kelly Omojugheri on the order of the king, who instructed him to shoot him because he is one of Adjogbe’s son?”

“Now they are coming up with a phoney narrative that the young man who was attacked by the same people who killed our brother, whose sister Edijala recently cried out that his life is in danger following a visit to the hospital where he was receiving treatment by a former lawmaker, is the one that handed over the gun to the king?

“Since the Police are quick the spin out this narrative to shield the real culprit who is the mastermind of the attempted assassination of Engr Samuel Adjogbe on June 20th, 2020 and the murder of Sylvester by blaming a soft target, the Police should do well to produce the killer of our brother and ensure that justice is served.”

Commissioner of Police CP, Delta State Police Command, Mr Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa had on May 6, 2020, waded into the communal crisis rocking Evwreni following the disbandment of the local security outfits in the kingdom.

The CP at a stakeholder’s meeting in his office at Asaba, with the monarch,  Ovie of Evwreni kingdom, HRM Oghenekevwe Kumane; Odion-Esiri of Evwreni kingdom, High Chief Godsgrace Amrophe; President-General, Evwreni Clan Improvement Union, Mr Bright Adjogbe; Ughelli Police Area Commander, ACP Lawan Shinkafi; DPO, A-Division Ughelli, CSP Kelvin Zuokomor; Ughelli North Council Chairman; Mr Godwin Adode and other stakeholders, charged the warring factions to work together in the overall interest of the kingdom.

The meeting which was at the instance of the Commissioner of Police, after efforts by the Ughelli Police Area Commander and Ughelli Council Chairman failed to yield the desired result of resolving the crisis which started in mid-March.

Recall that crisis engulfed the kingdom following the disbandment of the local security outfit (Bakassi) backed by the monarch which allegedly shot two persons; one Mr Marcus Uba and a little girl, Miss Esther Kowfigho, while the house of Mr Matthew Uba was vandalized.

In an earlier attack, it was alleged that one Okakor Omoghene was allegedly killed by the Bakassi and up till now, the body of the deceased is yet to be found.