BY JUDE LADI

BENIN CITY- A middle aged man, Okao-Ekhodiahi Terry Ovensehi is currently on the run following his alleged involvement in the death of one Ekpen Isaac.

The incident was said to have occurred on January 9 , 2018 at No. 24, Uwa street, off Ugbor Road, GRA Extension, Benin City.

A resident in the area, Mr Aigbe Odion told men of the Homicide Department at the Ugbor Police Division that the suspect and some unidentified persons had converged at the aforementioned address on the fateful day.

He further said that the atmosphere later turned rowdy as the deceased engaged the suspect and some persons in a heated argument which eventually turned violent.

Mr. Aigbe Odion however alleged that the suspect and his accomplices fled the scene when the deceased fell dead, apparently after being hit with an object.

However, information scooped up by our crime correspondent indicated that the incident may not be unconnected with a lingering dispute over land ownership.

It was gathered that the suspect and his step brother had been engaged in a fierce tussle over a piece of land which was bequeathed to him by his late father in 2013.

A source who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said Mr. Aigbe Odion who is a powerful and notorious political thug had been aiding the other party to dispossess the suspect of his land inheritance by constantly using thugs to harass him.

The event of January 9, 2018 however proved fatal as the deceased, Ekpen Isaac was a dreaded cultist and political thug who worked for Mr Aigbe.

“It was Mr Aigbe who led the deceased and others to harass and intimidate the suspect on the fateful day “, our sources added.

He said Mr. Aigbe Odion who claims to be an eye witness to the crime was trying to twist the facts of the matter and influence the police to abandon proper investigation of the case.

Reacting to the incident, a Benin based legal practitioner and human rights activist, Mr. Felix Akasi condemned the use of armed thugs by disgruntled politicians to harass and sometimes assassinate perceived opponents.

The human rights activist said the trend which is becoming increasingly worrisome, is an abberation in any democratic society, and accused the police of being active collaborators with such notorious politicians.

Meanwhile, the police in Benin city have declared the suspect wanted for murder.