Godwin Udoh
Okpanam Town which is 15 minute drive from Asaba in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State was thrown into endless mourning, following the killing of two years child by Operative of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Delta State Command.
It’s was claim that the ugly incident that take the life of the young Ivan Omorhiakogbe occurred at about 4.20pm on Thursday 13 July, 2023 by a stray bullet shot by the NDLEA operatives while chasing suspected drugs peddlers along Okpanam road area.
The Nigeria Xpress gathered that the children were in their mother’s shop, a cake baker and owner of Hillsi Cakes N More Academy, after closing from school when the incident occured.
The two children were hit by the stray bullet, the younger of them on the eye while the older, Ivan Omorhiakogbe was hit on his abdomen who die few hours letter at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Asaba.
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The father of the two children, Mr. Omorhiakogbe Fidelis while narrated ordeal to The Nigeria Xpress call on federal and state government to weedy into matter, that that they only seek for justice because their innocent son will not die for nothing.
“After I pick them from school as usual no that fateful day I drop them with their mum in the shop, the Plaza close to Sweet Spirit hotel, Okpanam, that is where my wife’s shop is located so that I can go and meet up with other of my activities for the day and after day work I take them home.
“So, going back to the house to pick up something, my house is just five minutes drive from the shop. Getting to the compound, my wife called me, sweet heart please come.
She said, “I don’t understand whether if it is bullet or anything, there is no gunshot within that environment, I then rushed back to the place, getting there, my wife called me again that they are going to FMC, meet us there.
“It is like it is a gunshot because my wife said she saw my boy’s intestines coming out even the glass that the bullet penetrated, affected my younger son’s eye.
“She held two of them and started shouting for help, that was when she then called me to meet them at FMC.
“As I was about to going to FMC, it occurred to me to check the shop first before going any where, so I stop at the shop to know what’s happening. When I got to the shop, I saw one Hilux Van, fully loaded with operatives of NDLEA with arms.
“I saw another Sienna, they went to turn so that they can go back to inside town not Okpanam town, I saw another Honda. The vehicles were all occupied by NDLEA Operatives. So, they then parked close to my wife’s shop.
“According to the people around, they said they were chasing those guys that sells drugs, but the guys ran away and wonder how the bullet got to my wife shop and hit my children inside the shop.
So, I was trying to ask some of my neighbours, that my wife just told me that there’s a gunshot that hit my boys and his intestines are coming out.
“Then one of the boys said it was the gun that was shot by drug people that touched your son. That gave me the courage because they had already parked and trying to arrest some other boys while others ran away, the place was rowdy.
“Then I trying to take pictures and videos. One of the NDLEA officer came out and asked why I was videoing him, asking me if I am mad.
“He then cracked his gun, ask me to stop or will shot me, then i told him that the gun you people shot has killed my son, and if you want to kill me, just kill me as I won’t leave to see the killers of my sons go free.
“Then the guy then punched me, I then held his hand. Immediately they heard that their gunshot has killed a child, they immediately entered their cars and zoomed off.
“I jumped inside my car and followed them till we got to Issele-Azagba, which is about 25 minutes drive from were the incident took place, they pulled over in one filling station and came to me. I told them that the gun they shot Kill my son, they said they know and that they have called their Commander.
“They said I should follow them to their head office in Ogwashi-Uku, getting to that place, their Oga, when to take to them before he came in.
“They started pleading with me and enquired about the condition of the child and I told him that I haven’t seen him as I decided to stay around the shop to know what actually happened.
“The oga then said that, that was true. According to their Oga, he said what they told him is that they were chasing someone or that they wanted to cross then one bike or a vehicle hit the NDLEA guy, that was when the gun triggered.
“He said I should not worried and that I should go and see them first as that is the most important thing to everybody right now and that he will send one or two persons with me.
“Immediately, I left for Asaba to see my family in the hospital and I was told they are in the theater and they were looking for blood.
“After one and a half hour, the people that the Commander sent came in and ask what is the situation, I told them that they are look for blood for him to survive.
“The blood they said we should donate is a fresh one and not the one they have in their blood bank. So, we were trying to look for among some of my friends that came around because I could not donate because I am B positive. But finally we got a donat with O’ positive.
“We were running around and they were doing X-ray and all of that. About 7:00pm to 1:00am, he then gave up, the doctors said he couldn’t make it because the intestines and kidney were affected.”
Ivan Omorhiakogbe, was 2 years and six months old. I have gone to the police station and made my statement.
My second child, Erhumossele condition is till critical as he eyes was affected because the bullet hit the glass door and penetrated and splashed on his eye and body. But we were told that he as a cut, he was taking to theater yesterday 14th July, 2023 by 2am and he came out by 6am. This morning the doctors were ensuring the cut and wounds are treated.”
When contacting the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Command, DSP Edafe Bright, made the disclosure, on Saturday July 15th 2023, in Asaba, the State capital.
The image-maker said, “the Command is aware of the incident that occured on the 13th of July 2023.
“It is a sad one, it is a tragic incident and the Command is truly and indeed disturbed.
“Unfortunately, one of the kids who the stray bullet hit, gave up the ghost at the hospital. His age is 2 years and his name is Ivan Omorhiakogbe.
“The CP has directed that the matter be transferred to the State CID. As I speak with you, the matter is already been investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Delta State Police Command.
“And all parties involved will appear before the CP on Monday”, the PPRO, revealed.