Three members of a local vigilante group at Oveto Street in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli, Delta state, were at the weekend, arrested by Military officials attached to the 222nd Battalion for allegedly killing an unidentified commercial motorcyclist popularly known as okada rider.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, told newsmen that the victim was rushed to the Ughelli Central hospital where he later died.
The PPRO disclosed that two single barrel guns, 4 live cartridges and a cutlass were recovered from the suspects, Peter Oghenechuko of the Ughelli Vigilante Council, UVC, Sunny Oyovwire and Fidelis Onwah, already handed over to the Ughelli ‘B’ Division police station.
A lady, who was riding with the victim on his bike before his death, told newsmen that the victim was shot at the back of his head by one of the vigilante members.
According to the unidentified female passenger, the vigilante members had accosted them along Oveto Street following an argument between the ‘okada’ rider and the vigilante group.
One of the suspects, Peter Oghenechuko, who accepted blame for the death of the okada rider, described the incident as an accidental discharge noting that he never intended shooting the victim.
“I wanted to shoot into the air to scare him while he (the okada rider) tried to ram into me with his motorcycle when the gun exploded and hit him on the head,” Oghenechuko said.
Meanwhile, the PPRO stated that investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
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