Warri – There is palpable tension in Ekpan Community ,Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, following the assassination of Mr. Lawrence Ngozi Akpomiemien, Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Youths Development by yet to be identified gunmen .
Residents of the community especially indigenes are said to be fleeing the community for fear of reprisal attacks, while shops are under lock and key despite the postponement of the general elections earlier scheduled for today. Heavy shooting has been reported in the early hours of today.
Nigerian Observer learnt that there is restrictions on vehicular movements as well heavy presence of soldiers in the community.
It was gathered that the late Ngozi as he popularly called hails from Kwale, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State was only connected to Ekpan Community through his maternal grandmother from Ekpan.
He was an active youth leader in the community until his gruesome murder when he was ambushed and gunned down at about 2 am Saturday, while returning from an outing with his girlfriend around Jakpa Road.
Confirming the incident to the Nigerian Observer , the new Delta Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) ASP Chuks Orisewezie, said,
” I can confirmed to you that Ngozi was murdered last night , but the police cannot tell whether it was politically motivated or not.
“The police are carrying out investigation and we assure you that, any person or persons connected to the murder, will be made to face the full wrath of the law. ”
The Police Spokesman however, did not say whether any arrest has been made in connection with Ngozi’s murder.
Ekpan, which for some time now, has witnessed relative peace, known for its volatility as a community , is co-host to Chevron Nigeria Limited(CNL); and host to Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) both subsidiaries of Nigerian Nationan Petroleum Company (NNPC) as well as many other oil servicing companies.
Reacting to the incident, the Delta State government in a statement said,
” On behalf of the @dsgovernment and people of Delta State, I mourn the death of Mr Lawrence Ngozi Ijei, who was my aide until his untimely demise.
“I condole with his wife and family and I call on the security agencies to dig deep into the unfortunate incident and apprehend those behind the action.
“We urge Deltans to remain peaceful and maintain the existing peace we have built in the last three and half years.
May his soul rest in peace!.”
