A vigilante member of Ukpiovwin community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, was on Thursday, July 29 beaten to death after he accidentally shot dead the outgoing President-General of the community, Mr Fredrick Ighoshemusua.
The tragic incident happened during the swearing-in ceremony of new executive committee of the community on Thursday, July 29.
Ighoshemusua, 50, met his untimely death shortly after formally handing over the baton of leadership to his successor at an event held at the community’s secondary school premises.
While the deceased was taking a group photograph with the new executives, the vigilante member started shooting in the air in celebration. The pump-action gun of the mobbed vigilante allegedly jammed, and in the process of fixing it, the gun suddenly fired again – hitting the chairman on the chest and killing him instantly.
Angered by the ugly incident, a mob reportedly descended on the gun-wielding vigilante member and clubbed him to death.
A source said:
“Ighoshemusua tenure as President General of the community has expired and he has successfully handed over to his successor. While the celebration was on, the outgone PG left for his house. After some time, it was discovered that the man was no longer there and they sent for him to take part in a group photograph”.
Confirming the incident, Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ari Muhammed Ali, told journalists that the vigilante member shot the community leader in error after making futile attempts to shoot into the air to add colour to the ceremony.
“It was in the process of taking the group photograph that the vigilante member started shooting in the air in celebration. At a point, as he was shooting, his pump-action gun did not respond,” the CP stated.
“He brought the gun down and was trying to fix it when it exploded in the direction of the outgone President General’s chest and he died on the spot. When the vigilante man saw what happened, he quickly took a motorcycle and was headed to the police station to report the matter, but some angry youths gave him a hot chase and stopped him at the railway line. They brought him back to the community and beat him to death.” he added.