How Gunmen Murdered Sapele Resident, Onagebe In Cold Blood

By John Onos

Tragedy struck in Sapele, Delta State, as gunmen numbering ten allegedly invaded the home of one Mr. Francis Onagebe Evuen and shot him to death in the process when his son, whom they claimed they came for could not be found.

According to the daughter of the deceased, Miss Blessing Onagebe who narrated the incidence to journalists in Sapele, said her father who is to be buried according to the tradition and customs of the Okpe people on Friday 4th January, 2019, was dragged from his house at Oghene Road Sapele on the 20th day of December 2018 to an unknown destination where they finally shot him dead.

Miss Blessing, while narrating the incident further in an emotion-ladened voice, said “on the 20th of December, 2018 at about 10:30pm, a group of gunmen

numbering ten came to our residence, when I was watching a movie with my

Dad, Comrade Francis Onagebe in the sitting room, while my mother and others were already sleeping in the bedroom, as the gunmen came in and were asking my father after my brother Mr. Patrick Onagebe, and pointing a gun to my father’s head.

“My dad explained to them that his son was not at home because he was out of the country, yet they insisted they heard that he came for the Christmas holiday. My father said to them that their story was not true.”

She continued: “At this stage my father asked them who they were, and why were they looking for his child, they then responded that they are a militant group. They told my father to provide my brother for them or they will take me (Blessing) the daughter with them and my father told them he is saying the truth, but they could not believe him as they immediately dragged me with them and my father

started fighting with them and after much struggle, they let me go and in anger took my father inside a waiting car and drove out from the compound as we all shouted for help but neigbours and sympathizers could not do anything to save the situation.”

She explained further while displaying the father’s affidavit of death Certificate sworn to, at the Sapele High Court, that “at 12:am, a motorcycle operator in the area came to us and said he saw a man lying on the ground and when he looked at the face of the man it was my father who was on the ground along Sapele-Warri Road. When we all got there he was already dead with blood gushing out of his neck where he was shot. My mother took him to Sapele Central Hospital where Doctors confirmed him dead on arrival.”

Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased have finalized plans for his burial which comes up at his residence in Amukpe, commencing with a service of songs on Thursday 3rd January 2019 at 4p.m, while on Friday 4th January 2019 at 9:00a.m body leaves Central Hospital, Sapele to his residence, along Oghene Road Amukpe, Sapele, Delta State for interment as entertainment of guest follows immediately at the same venue.

Until his untimely death by the hands of these militants, the Late Mr. Francis Onagede Evuen who passed on to glory on the 20th of December is survived by his wife, 6 children and four grandchildren, amongst whom are Miss Blessing Francis Onagebe and Mr. Patrick Onagebe Francis.