A 66-year-old community head in Ugbowo area of Benin City in Edo State was on Saturday
night killed by gunmen who invaded his residence.
The deceased, John Asemota, was the Odionwere (Clan Head) of Power-line community at Ugbowo.
The gunmen, seven in number, were said to have attacked the late Asemota’s residence at about 9:30pm and shot him in the head and back.
The deceased’s son, Osemudiamen Asemota, who narrated the incident, said three of his father’s tenants were also shot.
He said his father died on the spot, while his tenants were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where they were receiving treatment.
Osemudiamen said the incident was reported at the Ogbowo Divisional Police Headquarters, which responded promptly by coming to the scene shortly after the incident occurred.
He said: “It was the police that took my father’s body to the mortuary, while they also rushed those shot to hospital for medical attention.”
He, however, ruled out the possibility of robbery, alleging that his father was killed over community issues.
At the Ogbowo Divisional Police Headquarters, some officers confirmed the incident, but refused to comment on the incident.
Pleading anonymity, one of the officers, who was drafted to the scene of the incident, said the matter would be handled appropriately.
