The Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State has insisted that those responsible for the killing of Emiko Onuwaje must be prosecuted to ensure justice for his family.
Community leaders also declared that they would not accept the return of a prominent indigene to Ugborodo until all suspects are identified by the police and made to face trial.
The demand was made on Monday during a peaceful protest held at Ogidigben, within the Ugborodo Federated Communities of the Warri Federal Constituency.
Dressed in black, protesters marched through major streets in solemn procession, singing mournful songs and holding leaves as a symbol of grief.
Speaking to journalists, the Vice Chairman of the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) and spokesperson for the Ogidigben Community Council of Elders, Austin Ajuremisan, said justice could only be achieved if those behind the killing were brought to book.
Also addressing reporters, the UCMC Secretary, Mr Eyengho Samuel Besidone, stressed that the arrest and prosecution of the suspects would help ease tensions in the community, especially among the youth.
According to him, the killing was not related to any communal dispute.
“The man who was killed has children and a family. This is pure murder. When armed men invaded the community, we thought they were bandits but later discovered they were our own brothers claiming to be fighting for the palace,” he said.
Besidone called on the federal government and security agencies to act swiftly, adding that justice for the deceased would help restore calm in the area.
The Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, Eghare Daniel Uwawah, recalled that the incident occurred while Onuwaje and other community members were on their way to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facility in Ogidigben for a peaceful protest, when they were allegedly attacked.
An All Progressives Congress chieftain and Itsekiri leader, Ayirimi Emami, also expressed grief over the incident, stating that several petitions had earlier been written against the prime suspect over alleged illegal activities. He urged authorities to take decisive action, noting that a suspect had reportedly made confessional statements in connection with the killing.
DAILY POST reports that during a condolence visit to the Onuwaje family, Emami again called on security agencies to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Onuwaje was reportedly killed at the weekend during the incident that has since heightened tension within the community.
Ugborodo community demands prosecution of Onuwaje’s killers
