Crime
Gunmen Lay Siege To Ughelli Monarch’s Palace, Shoot Police Orderly, As Queen Escapes
-It Was A Foiled Robbery Operation, Says Police PRO
By Oasis Magazine
There was tension in Ughelli town as gunmen laid siege at the palace of HRM Wilson Ojakovo Oharisi III to abduct the king’s wife.
In statement sent to FocalPoint Reports on Tuesday revealed that the wife of the king, Queen Rachael yesterday narrowly escaped death after she was ambushed by a gang of gunmen in front of the palace along Isoko road in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
A police orderly, Inspector Bello Chinye attached to the palace also narrowly escaped death during the incident following gunshot wound he sustained on his right hand during the attack.
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When contacted, the Delta state Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onowakpoyeya debunked reports that it was a kidnap attempt, saying that it was a foiled robbery operation, as she confirmed the death of a police officer.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the wife of the monarch identified as Queen Rachel (Queen II) and her driver had gone to a new generation bank along Isoko road and returned to the palace when they were accosted by the gunmen.
The source said: “From information made available to us, the gunmen whom were dressed in police camouflage cardigan and double-crossed the car conveying the queen and ordered the driver to open the door and come down.
“While the driver was questioning the gunmen what he might have done thinking they were policemen, a police inspector on guard at the palace came to the scene of the incident and tried to know what was going on.
“It was at this point that the gunmen upon sighting the policeman, opened fire on him and shot him on the hand. It was during the melee that ensued that the queen also ran into the palace for safety while the hoodlums also fled the scene.”
When contacted, the Ughelli monarch, HRM Wilson Ojakovo Oharisi III confirmed the incident saying the entire kingdom would have been in sorrow mood if not for the love of God for the kingdom, saying “my police orderly was shot during a cross fire between the men of the underworld and the secretary operatives attached to the palace.”