OTOKUTU: Killing People For Sacrifice Not In Our Nature – OCDU

By Williams Ode

The president of Otokutu Community Descendants Union (OCDU), Olorogun Peter Police and its Community Descendants Elders, have condemned the gruesome kidnapping and killing of one Mr Paulinus Okon, just as they commiserated with the family of the deceased to bear the loss.

because its against Otokutu Community forbidden culture and values in the Urhoboland.

In a press statement joined by Otokutu Community Elders cluster, Pa Orode Iroroje, Elder George Gori and President General, Olorogun Peter Police respectively, who spoke to newsmen while reacting to the ugly incident that occurred recently, said “We deem it necessary to draw the attention of the general audience to be aware of the bad incident that happened around the Otokutu River in the community few months ago as a surprise to us because it is not our business and culture to kill people to serve shrine.”

PG Peter, added: “The Otokutu community in Ughelli South of Delta State which to make it known to the members of the nook and crannies, especially the public of the tragic situation that took place in Otokutu community. Sometime in September, 2024 we got a report from the family members of one Paulinus Okon that their brother was kidnapped and that one Efe money claimed he was mediating with the supposed kidnappers for his release.”

PG Pete said, “After some weeks, the community got reports again that despite the fact that the supposed ransom was paid through the said Efe money, the victim was yet to be released by the alleged kidnappers who was paid for his selfish barbaric acts against the innocent young man.

“The community was angered by the new development and decided to inform the Area Commander Ughelli, Delta State immediately to intervene and after the matter was reported by the community.”

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“They called for a meeting at the community town hall from where the Area Commander, Ughelli, Delta State arrested the said Efe money and some of his cohorts to the Area Command Ughelli to face the consequence of their crime committed not to involve Otokutu community.”

He continued: “When the Ughelli Area Command was yet to carry out preliminary investigation on the matter, the case was transferred to Asaba due to the negative reportage of the matter that was published on the social media against Otokutu community because it doesn’t concern the community.”

“While the matter was still before the Delta State Criminal Investigation Department (DSCID), it was learnt that the victim’s family had contacted a Human Right Lawyer, Omes Ogedegbe who had pleaded with the Delta State Commissioner of police to allow the DPO Ekpan, CSP Aliyu Shabba who has a proven track record of achievements to carry out the investigation and same was granted. We observed thereafter that a retinue of police officers stormed the community and brought the said Efe Money and the community Chief Priest to the community’s shrine from where they exhumed the lifeless and decaying head of the victim.”

“We totally condemn the barbaric act of killing an innocent soul named Mr Paulinus Okon. In the same vein the Otokutu community consoles with the family of the deceased and pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. Indeed it is an irreparable loss.”

Olorogun Peter, reiterated: “We wish to state very clearly that the Otokutu community does not serve its deity with human blood, head or even body as the deity had once rejected a chief priest by name Sunday Udumebraye Ogodogun for merely nursing grudges with his wife while rendering service as the community chief priest not to talk of sacrificing a human being.”

Lamenting that “reason was obviously the reason the community could not celebrate and enjoy its 2024 festival as the deity refuse to come out from the shrine for the aged long customary displayed slated for 17th September 2024 as the shrine was desecrated. The said chief priest is only obligated to consult the deity on behalf of the community and not to do otherwise hence his action is prohibited as same is a taboo to the Otokutu community. It is hereby condemned by all right thinking indigenes of the community as it was never the mandate and nature of the community.”

OCD added: “One Lawrence Joseph Oberiko was only made the chief of the community few months ago before the incident occurred and Otokutu community is not aware of any of their barbaric acts against the innocent man.”

“We as a community wishes to express our gratitude at the unfolding events as we perceived the community shrine was defied and several attempts were made to cleanse the community but to no avail as the community was ignorantly doing the cleansing through the defilers (Okiemute Gaiga and the Chief Priest).”

“The chief priest was never carrying out the instructions of the community for the human head dug in the Otokutu shrine as the community hereby demands justice for the victim for the ugly incident. The community is a law abiding community, hence they instigated and ensured the arrest of the said Efe money from the community town hall to face the crime he committed and not involve the Otokutu Community, Descendants Union OCDU.

“As a community, we wish to express our gratitude to the police in general and the Divisional Police officer, Ekpan (CSP Aliyu Shabba) in particular for the level of investigation carried out so far and also appeal to the police to ensure that culprits are brought to book,” they said.