Slain Benue monarch’s family petitions IGP, demands investigation
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has been petitioned to an urgent investigation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the death of a slain Monarch, Chief Stephen Ada Ochekwu alleged to have been assassinated in December 2021.
Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, daughter of the late Monarch, Miss Lizzy Ochekwu who described the death of her father as “gruesome” said his death has “ripped members of the family apart,” especially that some of those who were allegedly involved in the assassination are still at large.
“My late father had written to the Makurdi Police Headquarters several times. My father went on exile because of threat to his life and he wrote to the police to investigate his opponent after several threats from the man.
“Now that my father is dead, we want the IGP, Usman Alkali Baba to investigate the killing of my father and other killings and the threat to my family members,” she requested.
The call was sequel to a petition written by the family Attorney, Barr. Paul Omengala and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt which described as unwarranted and brutal the murder of the chief at his Ugbokpo residence, Ape LGA in Benue State.
The petition said the late Monarch had emerged through a due and recognized process of chieftaincy election having defeated his opponent and was recognized by the Benue State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Piqued by the inability of the Benue security agencies to provide him and the communities protection, after he had severally written to inform them of the security challenges, especially from the perceived opponents, who he was he said to have defeated in several litigations up to the Supreme Court. Omengala condemned the unwarranted assassination of the clan chief, saying it was most dastardly.
Speaking further, he said Chief Stephen who was shot severally in his bed through the window by unknown gunmen suspected to be assassins in the wee hours of December 31, 2021 was transferred to the Royalty Specialist Hospital, Otukpo, where Doctors battled in vain to save his life.
Omengala insisted that he was also informed that the late Chief Stephen was a victim of pre- meditated attacks by supposed opponents who contested the clan headship of Edikwu with him but for the fear of his life wrote severally to the police and the DSS, including other security agenciess but to no avail.
He said the alleged assassins reside within the clan and have succeeded in turning the clan into a ghost settlement through wanton killings and maiming of their perceived opponents with impunity even as he regretted that despite the efforts by the slain chief, no help was in sight from the police and other security agencies who seemed overwhelmed.
Omengala therefore called on the Benue State Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies to step up their game and investigate the alleged prime suspects saying, “it is our belief that the arrest of the prime suspects will lead to the arrest of the others involved in the nefarious act.”
Meanwhile, the Benue Police Command has confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists through the command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy DSP, Catherine Anene saying, “On December 31,2021 at about 12:45 a.m., information was received that Chief Ada Ochekwu of Ukpogo, Edikwu Village, Ape LGA but resident in Ugbokpo Town and a chief of Edikwu Community who was suspended and reinstated by the Benue State government over a chieftaincy crisis in his community was shot on his stomach in his house by unknown persons while asleep.
“The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital before being transferred to Otukpo Town for further medical attention. He eventually died at the hospital as a result of gunshot injury. Investigation into the matter is in progress,” she said.
