Family of Ekikienkpong in Idum Mbube community, Ogoja local government area of Cross River State has petitioned the chief of army staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya, over alleged murder of their son, Joseph Peter Okpe in Ogoja town by troops of the Nigerian Army from Ogoja Battalion. The troops were said to have been allegedly led by one Major Olayinka Olaoye.
In a 20 paragraph petition written by deceased family’s lawyer, E.E. Osim Esq. of the Advocate Chambers Calabar, and addressed to Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, sighted by LEADERSHIP, the petition stated that the 37-year-old deceased late Joseph Okpe, (dealer of power bikes), was said to have been shot dead in a hotel premises at Ogoja LGA, of Cross River State at the wee hours of March 17, 2023, by a soldier whom the petitioner claimed was under the control of one major Olayinka Olaoye.
The petition urged the chief of army staff to without any delay fish out the culprit and get the suspect to face trial over Joseph’s murder.
In a petition dated April 15, 2023 , the bereaved family wants the prime suspect and his cohorts to be brought to book so as to serve as a deterrent to other soldiers who are in the habit of taking the lives of innocent citizens.
Findings however revealed that the deceased who is a father of three children arrived Ogoja from Ikom LGA in company of friends and artisans engaged for the construction works at his building site at Ogoja since work was ongoing despite the governorship and House of Assembly elections that was scheduled for the following day. Unknown to the deceased that he was on the radar of some business associates heavily indebted to him over some inconclusive financial transactions who had been spotted by some locals hobnobbing with some soldiers including the alleged suspect at major relaxation centres around Ogoja before the alleged murder was carried out.
“After checking in at the hotel our brother left to visit his aged parents and some family members leaving the team he traveled to settle. Immediately he left, soldiers arrived at the hotel demanding Joe amidst heavy shooting which send everyone scampering for safety.
“Since he was not around all his friends were arrested and taken to an unknown destination with their phones ceased, while detailing a mole for surveillance. Immediately after he drove in, Major Olayinka and his men arrived.
“The deceased was shot on the hip just as he stepped out from his car. After he collapsed to the floor. They advanced closer and opened fire at close range and he died instantly and his car ransacked, and huge amount of cash taken away. His body was later taken to the military checkpoint and later handed over to the police under the guise of a political thug killed during an exchange of gunfire with the military,” the source stated.
Also, counsel to the family, E. E. Osim Esq stated that labelling the late Okpe as a political thug killed during a gun melee is a well “orchestrated cover-up meant to shield the culprit from justice.”
“We want the Chief of Army Staff to know that soldiers drafted for election duty performed creditably while adhering strictly to global best practices.
“This heinous crime was committed hours before the commencement of the elections. This is not the case of unknown soldiers, we know the killers even though they have been hurriedly transferred from Ogoja Army Formation. Major Olayinka and co should be handed over to the military police for preliminary interrogation for onward handing over to the Nigerian police for the law to take its course, this is our earnest prayer,” the petition stated.
But in a reaction to the petition, the Cross River State commissioner of police, Sule Balarabe, stated that the killing of Mr Peter Okpe was a pure murder which should not be associated with governorship or House of Assembly election violence.
“There was nothing like snatching of the ballot box or exchange of fire between political thugs and the military anywhere in the state contrary to online media reports. The young man was murdered on the eve of the election,” he insisted.
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