Man killed, buried in shallow grave in Delta

A 43-year-old man, Ekene Ekwenuya, has been killed by suspected assassins in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that Ekwenuya was ambushed last Tuesday when he went to his building site along Ubulu-Unor road, Ogwashi-Uku.

A young man in the community, who gave his name simply as Chukwudi, on Monday, disclosed that the killers overpowered Ekwenuya, dealt him several machete cuts on his head, and dug a shallow grave in which they buried him.

“This incident happened over six days now. Ekene went to his building site with his motorbike last Tuesday and never returned home.

“The family and friends have searched everywhere for him but to no avail, a situation that made them make a formal report to the police.

“But on Saturday morning, some friends of the victim in the community spotted a youth from the community riding Ekene’s motorbike and confronted him over the whereabouts of Ekene.

“When the suspect could not give a definite answer, they held him, beat him up, and called in the community vigilantes who subsequently handed the suspect to the police,” Chukwudi said.

He added that the suspect later confessed to the crime before the police and mentioned three other accomplices who were currently on the run.

The suspect was said to have narrated how Ekwenuya was killed and buried in a shallow grave in the bush near his building site.

It was further gathered that the suspect led a combined team of the police and Ogwashi-Uku Vigilantes to where the victim was buried, while the corpse was exhumed and taken to the morgue.

Confirming the incident, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, told newsmen in Asaba, the state capital on Monday that one of the suspects involved in the gruesome killing was currently in police custody.

“The police got information that the victim was killed with cutlass. They cut him in the head, leading to his death.

“However, last Saturday, the police apprehended one of the suspects and he is currently helping the police with investigation,” Edafe said.

The Star

Segun Ojo