Ritual Killings: Fear Grips Community, As Residents Urged Security Agencies To Arrest Situation.
Oghara-Delta state - Following the recent killings by suspected ritualists at Oghara in Ethiope west Local Government Area of Delta state, the inhabitants have charged security agencies to rise up to their responsibility as they now live in fear in the community.
Oghara which is host to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, one of the three state-owned polytechnics and a private university as well as the country home of Ex governor, James Ibori had within a short period witnessed back to back killings.
Those living in the community no longer leave their homes when it is already dark or before breaking of the day as that is the time when the killers usually target their victims, harvest their vital organs, leaving their lifeless body in the pool of blood.
According to a source, a 66-years Old woman, Mrs Vero Ofotokun was killed recently by suspected ritualists who were said to have struck at about 4.30am when she was outside her home processing cassava flakes known as 'garri'.
The source, close to Late Mrs Ofotokun said the news of her death was traumatizing to the family that they never expected such dastardly act to happen in the community.
"Around 5am, people came to wake me up that her head has been cut off by unknown persons, i was shocked, i taught they were joking, when i got there, behold it was true, i cried so bitterly seeing her head separated from her body", the family source told The Nigerian Observer.
Also an eyewitness account narrates how a middle aged man was killed in front of his apartment around Scot road at night, where he had slept due to heat from power outage inside.
"He came out at 5am to sleep outside because of the heat inside, so he slept in his varranda just to take breeze, in the morning we came out to see that his head has been cut off", the eyewitness said
A trader in the community, Mrs Elizabeth Nana who could not hide her fears said she had not been herself since she saw the headless body of a 14years old girl dumped around Aja Road at Ogharefe.
According to Mrs Nana, the development which has brought apprehension to the entire community, has become more worrisome to the residents judging from the fact that Oghara also play host to military and police formations.
But the traditional ruler of Oghara-Efe where the recent incidents took place, High Chief Frank Edede had come out to allay the fears of the people, assuring them the killings would soon be a thing of past.
High Chief Edede who is the Unugbrogodo of Oghara-Efe called on members of the community to be vigilante, while expressing surprise over the inability of security agencies to arrest the situation.
"As traditional rulers, we have our plans which i will not want to disclose yet, but i will say we are putting things in place to stop the killings", High Chief Edede told our reporter.
Meanwhile, the state's Commissioner of police, Muhammed Mustafa had earlier confirmed the killings, saying the command had already launched investigation into the development.
Efforts to know the outcome of the investigations and plans by the Delta Police boss to avert future killings in the community was unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.
Oghara which is host to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, one of the three state-owned polytechnics and a private university as well as the country home of Ex governor, James Ibori had within a short period witnessed back to back killings.
Those living in the community no longer leave their homes when it is already dark or before breaking of the day as that is the time when the killers usually target their victims, harvest their vital organs, leaving their lifeless body in the pool of blood.
According to a source, a 66-years Old woman, Mrs Vero Ofotokun was killed recently by suspected ritualists who were said to have struck at about 4.30am when she was outside her home processing cassava flakes known as 'garri'.
The source, close to Late Mrs Ofotokun said the news of her death was traumatizing to the family that they never expected such dastardly act to happen in the community.
"Around 5am, people came to wake me up that her head has been cut off by unknown persons, i was shocked, i taught they were joking, when i got there, behold it was true, i cried so bitterly seeing her head separated from her body", the family source told The Nigerian Observer.
Also an eyewitness account narrates how a middle aged man was killed in front of his apartment around Scot road at night, where he had slept due to heat from power outage inside.
"He came out at 5am to sleep outside because of the heat inside, so he slept in his varranda just to take breeze, in the morning we came out to see that his head has been cut off", the eyewitness said
A trader in the community, Mrs Elizabeth Nana who could not hide her fears said she had not been herself since she saw the headless body of a 14years old girl dumped around Aja Road at Ogharefe.
According to Mrs Nana, the development which has brought apprehension to the entire community, has become more worrisome to the residents judging from the fact that Oghara also play host to military and police formations.
But the traditional ruler of Oghara-Efe where the recent incidents took place, High Chief Frank Edede had come out to allay the fears of the people, assuring them the killings would soon be a thing of past.
High Chief Edede who is the Unugbrogodo of Oghara-Efe called on members of the community to be vigilante, while expressing surprise over the inability of security agencies to arrest the situation.
"As traditional rulers, we have our plans which i will not want to disclose yet, but i will say we are putting things in place to stop the killings", High Chief Edede told our reporter.
Meanwhile, the state's Commissioner of police, Muhammed Mustafa had earlier confirmed the killings, saying the command had already launched investigation into the development.
Efforts to know the outcome of the investigations and plans by the Delta Police boss to avert future killings in the community was unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.
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