The people of an agrarian community of Ute-Okpu Kingdom in Ika North East, Delta State are currently living in fear and apprehension over the murder of a farmer in his early sixties, Mr. Monday Mordi who was brutally killed on the way to his farm in the community earlier in the week, DAILY POST can exclusively report.
Our correspondent, who was at the community, can report that the death of Mr. Mordi has forced indigenes of the sleepy community to avoid their farms for fear of not being murdered by the unknown gunmen, as many were seen mourning the deceased.
It was gathered that the deceased was to appear in a court at Owa-Oyibu on Tuesday over a case between him and his former
wife before he was killed with his motorcycle taken away by the gunmen.
This newspaper gathered that the gunmen left behind the remains of the deceased, a torchlight and a sack bag – an indication that they slept on the farm road waiting for their target.
Our correspondent gathered on Friday that the police from Owa-Oyibu Divisional Police Headquarters have arrested three persons, including his step-son, Ambrose Ekpu, who allegedly masterminded his killing.
National President Ute-Okpu Youth Association, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, in a telephone conversation, condemned the senseless murder of Mordi, who he described as a peace-loving and easy-going fellow.
He wondered why a harmless farmer would be waylaid and ruthlessly murdered by yet-to-be identified assailants, who according to sources, were three in number.
Comrade Ikeogwu added that the killing is giving serious concerns to indigenes of the kingdom, who now sleep with their two eyes open, alleging that cultism and other related vices have become the order of the day in the once peaceful community.
He therefore called on the relevant security agencies to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter with a view to unraveling those behind the killings, stressing that “The killing is too much in our land. We cannot go to farm again. Government should help us bring the
culprits out.”
The Divisional Police Officer of Owa-Oyibu Divisional Headquarters, CSP Austin Chukwuma could not be reached for comments on the matter, but a source within the police station confirmed the incident, noting that the victim was killed and his motorcycle carted away.
According to the Police source, “One person has been arrested in connection with the murder of Mr. Monday Mordi as the police continues its search and investigation for other members of the armed group.”
