Police arrest suspects over murder of vigilante leaders

By Felix Igbekoyi / Asaba

Suspected hoodlums that murdered the Chairman of Udu Central Vigilante group, Mr. Prosper Erhinyojare and leader of Red Bar Security in Warri, Mr. Godwin Migaga, as paraded by the Delta State Police Command in Asaba on Wednesday. Photo: Goddy Umukoro.

Delta State Police Command has arrested six persons over the gruesome murder of one Prosper Erhinyojare, Chairman of Udu Central Vigilante Group and one Godwin Mingaga (alias Kpuffman), leader of Red Star Security.

The suspects are Eric Umukoro (30 years), Akpojotor Christian Obele, Joshua Oghenevo (alias Abala), Caleb Oghenetega (alias K-leg) Solomon Olo and a female, Oke Olorede.

They deceased were murdered on April 17 and 22, 2014 respectively.

Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, State Commissioner of Police, while parading the suspects in Asaba on Wednesday, said four other members of the gang who have been declared wanted in connection with the murder are David, Rege, Festus and Ojekom, all without surnames. 

According to him, items recovered from the suspects included two AK47 riffles, 90 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and two locally made cut-to-size single barrel short guns.

The Commissioner who said the suspects had made useful statements would be made to face the full wrath of the law, adding that the demonic intention of the hoodlums was purely geared at instilling fears on the populace by brutally snuffing lives out of the two vigilante chiefs who had done so much to aid security agencies in their duties.

Aduba said arms and ammunitions recovered from hoodlums within the state in the past one month was an obvious indication of arms build-up in the state for which “we have mapped out strategies to have them mobbed up”.

He implored the people of Delta State not to be deterred as the police cannot do without their support, particularly in this perilous time.