20 women raped, police van burnt as hoodlums invade Agbarha-Otor

THERE is apprehension in Agbarha-Otor kingdom in Ughelli
North Local Government Area of Delta State following a reign
of terror unleashed on the people by hoodlums in the last
few days.
The Area Commander, Ughelli, Assistant Commissioner of
Police, ACP, Awosola Awotinde confirmed to Saturday
Vanguard that 34 persons were in police net in connection
with the orgy of violence.
THUGS
It was gathered that no fewer than 20 women and girls,
including an eight-year-old daughter of the Vicar of an
Anglican church in the community were raped by the
hooligans, who also set ablaze a police patrol vehicle.
A number of police officers were, at the outset, sent to the
palace of the monarch of Agbarha-Otor, His Royal Majesty
Richard Oghenevwogaga, Ebelle-Okorefe I, to secure the
king’s abode following a breakdown of law and order in the
community, Wednesday night, but rampaging hoodlums
overpowered them.
At press time, last night, the monarch has relocated from the
palace for safety reason, while the Area Commander, Ughelli,
has reinforced security in the town. Saturday Vanguard also
sighted soldiers in the troubled community.
The hooligans, numbering about 100 were angry that the
monarch refused to participate in the traditional “Ekene”
festival on grounds that he is a Christian.
According to our source, “they wanted the king to make
sacrifice to the deity, but he refused, saying he is a Christian
and they should go ahead without him contributing money or
cooking for them during the feast, as some of the priests and
chiefs demanded.
“His refusal to take part in the feast infuriated the hooligans,
who vowed to foment trouble and they executed their
mission on Wednesday, the last day of the feast. The
unfortunate thing is that some chiefs even supported their
rebellion,” he added.
Saturday Vanguard learnt that hoodlums allegedly expelled
from the community because of their criminal escapades,
started with the clergyman because it was in his church that
the king held a thanksgiving service recently.
Besides raping the clergyman’s eight-year-old daughter,
hospitalized because of the incident and other girls, they also
hijacked the property of people, claiming that the deity
wanted them.
A community leader said, the miscreants engaged in raping of
women (married and single) since the festival, which is held
once every 15 years started on 27th of March. It took a
worrisome dimension Wednesday night as they invaded the
Church’s vicarage, destroyed and looted properties worth
thousands of naira after making the vicar and his households
undergo some inhuman treatments.”
According to our source, “on their way from the vicarage,
they invaded the shop of the Queen Mother of Agbarha-Otor
and raided her shop; they stole wines and practically every
other thing in the shop and also vandalized the freezer.”