By Onome Oghenetega
Palpable tension is said to have enveloped a section of Ovwian community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State after vigilante members reportedly shot a young lady to death.
The incident occurred along Ufuoma street off the popular DSC Expressway near Udu Express Junction on Sunday night.
NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online gathered that the deceased identified as Sovereignty Iteregbe was said to be returning home from an outing when she was accosted by vigilantes who later shot her dead after a disagreement.
It was further learned that the vigilante members and the victim were engaged in verbal quarrel until one of the vigilante members armed with a pump action opened trigger on the young lady.
A source disclosed that the deceased, Sovereignty, died on the spot.
“Sovereignty died on the spot as she was shot close to her chest with a pump action by one of the vigilante members”, a source, who witnessed the incident told our reporter on Monday.
The killer vigilante members absconded after killing the victim as there is said to be tension in the area.
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Efe, a resident of the area explained, “The girl with her friend went to evening outing at a bar called ‘316’ adjacent Ufuoma street Junction Ovwian. On their way back at about 10pm, the vigilantes attached to Ufuoma street questioned the girl on where she was coming from which resulted to quarrel.
“Amidst the quarrel, one of the vigilante member picked his gun and shot her. Sovereignty died on the spot.
“The killer vigilante member is around his 50s. The vigilante member absconded immediately after killing her.”
Mother of the deceased, Madam Evelyn Ovien, also confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday when contacted.
Madam Ovien said her daughter was killed right in her presence after a disagreement ensued between her and the vigilante members who had reportedly flogged her with cutlasses resulting injuries on the deceased.
She said the alleged killers also threatened to killer before they fled the scene of the incident.
Narrating the incident, the bereaved mother said, “My daughter was shot on the stomach near her chest. The same vigilante members had earlier flogged her with cutlasses. Immediately they shot my daughter, she didn’t move again.
“I seized one of them but they hit me with their guns. They threatened to shoot me too. They hit me with their guns until I wasn’t able to hold on to one them again. The fled immediately leaving my daughter in pool of blood. Before we rushed her to hospital, she was already dead.”
She called on the Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Police Command to ensure that her daughter’s killers are apprehended and prosecuted.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident.
