The Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Security, Engr. Udoka Emmanuel Chika-dibie, has raised the alarm over what he described as a coordinated attempt to cover up the murder of a vigilante member, Mr. Joseph Anigboro Ikana, in Orogun Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
SaharaReporters gathered that in August, a 27-year-old labourer, Mr. Joseph Anighoro, was allegedly tortured to death in Oromuru Orogun after being accused of selling electric sockets said to have been stolen from the Federal Polytechnic Orogun.
Eyewitnesses alleged that Anighoro was handed over to community figures identified as Mr. Osholosholo, Mr. Julius Oderhohuo (popularly known as Ayiri), Progress Omo-Agege, and others. Rather than reporting him to the police, the men allegedly beat and tortured him through the night until he died in custody.
Sources insisted that the supposed stolen items were never found in Anighoro’s possession.
“He was just a labourer working in the community. They killed him without evidence and without investigation,” one source told SaharaReporters.
Condemning the act, human rights activist and Senior Special Assistant on Human Rights to the Delta State Police Command, Kelvin Ejumudo, described the incident as “brutality and jungle justice,” demanding that all those involved face prosecution.
“We say no to brutality and jungle justice. Such level of injustice will not be condoned. Everyone involved in this wicked act must face the full weight of the law,” Ejumudo declared.
But in a separate statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, Chika-dibie alleged that powerful interests were already working to derail justice in the case. He accused Progress Omo-Agege and his accomplices of masterminding the killing of Ikana, adding that attempts were being made to buy silence.
According to him, the suspects’ family offered the victim’s relatives a ₦10 million land purchase deal and ₦20 million compensation to suppress the matter. He also alleged that a secretary of the deceased’s family had connived with the suspects to secure a fraudulent court affidavit falsely stating that the family no longer wished to pursue justice.
“Can a young man with a family be murdered and the perpetrators believe they can compensate with money? Not a single family member has seen the corpse, yet negotiations have commenced. This is disturbing,” Chika-dibie said.
The governor’s aide warned that he was closely monitoring the situation, while expressing faith in ACP Aliyu Shaba to resist pressure and ensure the case is not buried.
Vowing to assist in the manhunt personally, Chika-dibie revealed plans to approach the Nigeria Immigration Service to obtain the passport details of the suspects to stop them from fleeing abroad.
“They must answer for this murder case. Possessing wealth is not a justification for evading justice. I will contribute to their arrest,” he vowed.
He further urged security agencies not to allow money or influence to derail justice, stressing that the case was a test of accountability in Delta State.