There was mayhem in Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta state, at the weekend, as remnants of the suspected Delta State kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah, currently facing trial, engaged the police and soldiers in a shoot-out. Two of the gunmen were shot dead.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), it was gathered that there was tension in the community in the past two days over the reign of terror by some gunmen.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed the bloody exchange, saying, “The remnants of Kelvin’s gang are in the bush causing trouble every day. We are pursuing them; we have arrested some of them, charged to court and we will continue to go after them.”
Trouble reportedly started when one of the gangsters, said to be in the habit of extorting money from people, accosted a prominent community leader, and attempted to extort money from him under the guise of security levy.
The community leader refused to pay and the suspected gangster dealt him a machete blow on the neck. The suspect was reportedly arrested by the police, but granted bail.
“Instead of allowing peace to reign, the bailed gangster mobilized other members of his group and stormed Kokori to wreak more havoc on the people,” a source said. (NAN)
