By Lucky Isibor,
Members of the Edo Council if the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, are mourning the shooting to death of a father of two and husband of one of their colleagues who was shot and killed at the weekend.
Okunkpolor Osatohamwen Von, husband of Anita, a reporter was murdered while on duty at a popular hotel along Upper Sokponba Area in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Spokesman of Edo State Police. Command, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor who confirmed the incident on Monday said the late Okunkpolor died in a cross fire between rival cult groups (Aye and Eye) at the hotel premises.
According to him, “I don’t’ know if he is the husband of a journalist. Two rival groups (Aye and Eiye) engaged themselves in a shoot out at the premises of the hotel; the manager was hit by a bullet and he died”.
Asked if Police have arrested any suspect in connection with the killing, he said: “The Police is on top of the situation”.
Sources say that the gunmen who opened fire on arrival at the hotel, wounded several guests while some ran for safety, before they opened fire and killed the 43-year-old Okunkpolor.
Widow of the deceased, Mrs. Anita Otasowie Okunkpolor was weeping uncontrollably when the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the chairman, Sir Roland Osakue paid her a condolence visit on Monday.
Her Sister, Mrs. Stella Maikudi, said she stumbled on his brother in-law’s death via the social media when an unidentified person posted “murdered in cold blood”, over her brother-in-law’s picture.
She said she proceeded to the hotel only to learn that the corpse was taken by the Police to the Central hospital.
“At about 5am. Anita came to meet me in my apartment and informed me that she received a phone call from an anonymous caller that her husband has been shot dead”.
The Chairman of Council, Sir. Roland Osakue NUJ who led the delegation to the immediate family of the deceased in Benin, called for an independent inquiry into the alleged murder.
