By FESTUS AHON

UGHELLI – SUSPECTED  robbers, yesterday, killed a member of the Udu Central Vigilante group and a security man attached to Okuku Layout, Ovwian in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State.

There is serious tension in the area, as residents now live in fear of possible attack by men of the underworld.
While the vigilante member, in his early 30s, was identified as Oghenechuko Kupa, the security man was identified as Kingsley Orji.

Contacted, leader of Udu Central Vigilante group, Mr. Prosper Erhinyojare, said he got a distress call from one of the residents of Okuku Layout in the early hours of yesterday that  robbers had laid siege to the layout.

He added that on receiving the call, he immediately deployed four members of the vigilante group to the scene, lamenting that “before we got to the scene, the gunmen had shot at Oghenetejiri Kupa (our driver) on the head and chest and he died on the spot.”

According to him, three other members of the vigilante group who sustained bullet wounds, had  been rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Noting that the suspectedrobbers escaped with bullet wounds, he charged residents of the area “to be on the watch and report anyone seen with bullet wounds to security agents.”

Pledging the readiness of the vigilante group to collaborate with the police in combating crime in the area, he expressed sadness on the death of their driver and the night guard.

Efforts to reach the Divisional Police Officer, Ovwian/Aladja Police Station for comment on the matter, proved abortive at press time.

However, a senior police officer attached to the division, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incidenct.