Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
Three persons, including a former local vigilance chair, were killed in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli Local North Government Area of Delta State, on Monday evening in what is believed to be a battle for the control of the main market in the Urhobo town.
It was gathered that the former local security boss, nicknamed Thunder, one Onome (alias Oyibo), and Nathania Ogra were gunned down during two separate clashes, which is believed to be connected with the battle over who should take charge of revenue collection in the market.
Various accounts indicated that Onome and Ogra were on a collection round at the market when they were involved in a face-off with members of the opposing group, who queried their power to make collections in the area.
“As the skirmish was going on, gunshots erupted and everybody scampered for safety. When the situation cleared, two persons (Onome and Ogra) were laying in the of their blood,” one source said.
It was gathered that Onome died at the spot, while his counterpart, Ogra, was rushed to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, which later claimed his life.
Meanwhile, Thunder died hours later during an attack on his home in the Sam Oteri suburb of Ughelli.
It was gathered that the two incidents were connected, but our reporter could not independently ascertain if the deceased were on the same or different sides of the factions battling for control of the market.
Various sources said bloody clashes for the control of Ughelli Main Market had become a yearly ritual between the people of Ekiugbo and Iwreko communities.
It was gathered that although levies from the markets in Delta, as in other parts of the state, are supposed to be for the local council, the collections are usually handled by touts of gang leaders who do not make remittances to the council.
Meanwhile, security operatives have been deployed to the area to restore sanity, even as residents fear that one of the groups could be planning reprisal attacks on perceived enemies and those believed to be responsible for Thunder and other deaths.
