Delta: Gunmen Murder Udu Market Chairman

After two previous suspected assassination attempts on his life, unknown gunmen on Sunday murdered the chairman of Udu Habour Market in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, Freedom Odiete.

Odiete, who was popularly known as Opito, was killed by gunmen who waylaid him by Cross-and-Stop Junction near Ekete Inland Junction along the DSC/Udu Expressway in Udu area of the state.

According to sources who witnessed the incident, the victim was driving a Pathfinder Jeep when he was waylaid and shot on the left hand by his murderers.

Opito who immediately jumped outside his Jeep was chased by the gunmen to Orhuwhorun Road before he was repeatedly shot again by the assassins.

Sources close to the deceased said the late market chairman also escaped a similar attack last week when gunmen ambushed his vehicle.

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It was gathered that the attack may not be unconnected with the conflict rocking the ownership of the Udu Habour Market between youths in Ovwian and Owhase communities.

Findings revealed that both communities have been struggling over who controls the market with the late chairman insisting that the leadership of the market would not be divided along community line.

“This is the third time gunmen have gone after him. I was two poles away when I heard the gunshots raining the air. When the gunshots subsided we rushed out only to see that it was Opito (Freedom Odiete) that was killed. He was attacked last week but God being so kind, he survived it.

“We learnt that Owhase and Ovwian communities have been having issues of Udu Habour Market. He has been receiving threats from some persons over the issue”, a friend of the deceased told our correspondent.

He was also alleged to have been attacked last year.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the killing of Opito on Monday to NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online.