There was tension in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State as a 45-year-old police inspector, Festus Onori, was killed by a mob, suspected to be Fulani Okada riders.
According to reports made available to NIGERIACRIME, the okada riders lynched the police officer on their way to church on Sunday in the presence of his wife and children.
The deceased’s elder brother, Austin Onori, who narrated what happened between the late policeman and the okada riders said the family was on their way to church when a commercial motorcyclist said to be of Fulani extraction hit Festus’ vehicle from behind in Okpanam.
He said, “My brother drove a distance of about one pole after the minor accident to park properly and came down to ensure that the Okada man and his passenger were unhurt only for more than 20 men pursue him with sticks and clubs, prompting the deceased to run back into his car.
“As my brother drove off for fear of being lynched, the Okada riders pursued him and as they continued to chase him, their numbers increased.
“When he got to marble hill (Okpanam) he diverted through that road to express thinking that his chasers would be discouraged and retreat. Behold, they pursued him down to Ogwashi-Uku Community even facing Kwale when the fuel in his vehicle got exhausted on the Ogwashi-Uku-Kwale expressway.
“At that time, his pursuers numbers increase. Then, they mobbed him to death in the presence of his wife and three children.
“They also destroyed his vehicle. It was a passerby, who according to the wife’s statement, that carried the Inspector Onori to Ogwashi-Uku police station before he was confirmed dead.
According to Austin, the deceased, Festus, was an Inspector at Marine Police Station Cable Point Asaba.
He added that the wife narrated that the Okada rider and his passenger who hit the inspector’s vehicle at the back did not sustain injuries in the earlier accident that led to her husband’s death.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer Delta State Command DSP Bright Edafe said he is yet to get official information on the incident.
He said, “I have not gotten official information on the incident and so cannot comment on the matter”