By FESTUS AHON

UGHELLI — Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ughelli branch, Delta State, has condemned what it described as the deliberate shooting and attempted assassination of its pioneer chairman, Chief Peter  Wanogho, by soldiers deployed in Orogun, on April 17, during the community’s annual festival.

The NBA, in a statement by its branch chairman, Mr. Austin Icheghe,  urged “the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book, together with their sponsors within two weeks,  failing which the  NBA, Ughelli branch will initiate legal action against the security agencies.

He said: “The NBA also condemns the spate of insecurity in Delta State and failure on the part of security apparatus to rise to the occasion by protecting the lives and property of citizens, particularly in Kokori, Isiokolo, Agbarha-Otor and Orogun communities.”

Contacted, the Commanding Officer in charge of the 222 Battalion, Lt. Col. Victor Ibeh,  said: “I personally led the team that went to Orogun that day and there was no firing of any sort by my men. We only went there to assist the police because of the move by some persons in the town to disobey the order of the state government on the postponement of the festival.

“Prior to the  day of the festival, I went to see the traditional ruler, community leaders and other stakeholders on the need for them to obey government directive on the postponement of the festival and I was told that they had bought cows and other items in preparation for the festival.

“Those who defied government directive on the festival were arrested by the police and released after a day or two. So my men did not shoot at anybody.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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