Two persons were feared dead on Friday in troubled Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State when armed youths loyal to notorious crime-lord, Kelvin Ibruvwe invaded the town.
The incident led to bloody confrontation between the gang and troops of the Joint Task Force who were deployed following an SOS from the community.
Among the victims was a middle aged man identified as the suspected kidnapper’s maternal uncle. Kelvin, who is facing trial in Abuja, is the leader of the militant group Liberation Movement of the Urhobo People.
A reliable community source told our reporter that his uncle was shot on Friday in Kelvin’s mother’s house where he was visiting when the latest crisis broke out in the town.
Our source said, “Kelvin’s boys were on rampage in Kokori. There was heavy shooting in Kokori yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday). There was heavy shooting.
“Two persons were killed. Kelvin’s uncle who went to visit his (Kelvin’s) mother was among the victims but the man was not a member of the group. He was a quiet calm, man who was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” added the source, who for his safety, asked not to be named.
It was further learnt that the Secretary of the town council, identified as Treasure Ogbe was abducted by the hoodlums to their militant camp near the town.
It was gathered that he was tortured and ordered to go back and convene a meeting where he would pressurize the elders and chiefs of the community to agitate for Kelvin’s release or face more molestation.
A source close to the community scribe said he was released shortly after troops moved into Kokori.
Meanwhile, feelers from the troubled Urhobo town indicated that its leaders are becoming increasingly worried by the resurgence of Kelvin’s gang.
It would be recalled that the gang are fingered for the murder of two lawyers and attack on police convoy in the state recently.
A source in the town told our reporter, “We are afraid. The boys are a constant threat, their camp is nearby and the military know it but am surprised they have not moved to clear them.”
No fewer than 20 persons have been killed in series of bloody clashes between the gang members and troops of the Joint Task Force since Kelvin was arrested in September 2013.
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