Unknown gunmen yesterday assassinated the Ughelli branch chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Delta state, Barrister Austin Icheghe.
The assassination was one in the series of killings rocking Ughelli metropolises in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State
The incident, it was gathered, happened at about 9 pm at the 14 Ekredjebor residence of the victim in the presence of his immediate family.
A niece of the deceased, Egunor Uviesa told newsmen that her uncle was shot in front of his apartment while alighting from his vehicle at the close of work.
“As soon as he came down from his vehicle, they accosted him, and shot him on the head with the bullet damaging part of his face. He was immediately rushed to a private clinic here in Ughelli were he was confirmed dead.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Director, Center for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, (CENTREP), Barrister Oghenejabor Ikimi has condemned the incident, describing it as barbaric even as he wondered why anyone would want to sentence a lawyer to death.
“The killing of the NBA chairman brings to mind the incessant killings in Ughelli which is on the increase in recent times. We are tired of cases of unresolved murders and assassinations nationwide.
“A year ago, two lawyers in the State were murdered by unknown gunmen on their way to court and the police are yet to arrest the culprits till date. We are calling on the State Commission of Police and his men to wake up and checkmate these killings because we are tired of these killings.” [myad]
