COVID-19 Lockdown: Robbers Raid Residential House, Kill One In Asaba

Suspected armed robbers have reportedly raided a residential apartment at Okotomi area of Okpanam, near Asaba, Delta state capital at the wake of the first week of coronavirus lockdown in the state ordered by Delta Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, following the global coronavirus regulations for people to stay at home to curb the spread of the infections

BIGPEN learnt that suspected armed robbers numbering about seven, allegedly invaded the residence of one Aaron Edafeikpema, a civil servant in the State and made way with valuables including cash amounting to N295,000.00 which he kept in his house ostensibly to take care of the family needs in view of the lock down.

Sources disclosed that the suspected robbers also made away with three exotic phones valued at N122,500.00 belonging to him and his wife. This was after they vandalised his Toyota Corona car parked in the compound.

The source said that while fleecing with the loot, the suspected armed robber released some volume of bullets which hit and killed an unidentified young man.

The victim, Edafeikpema who confirmed the development when contacted, said that the hoodlums demanded, initially, for N4 million before his entire house was ransacked.

According to him, “at about 9.30pm on the fateful night, light suddenly went off while my power generating set was still on, so I tried to peep through the window to observe what was amiss.

“While I was in the process of peeping, one of the robbers pointed gun at me and ordered me to open the door or he will be shot but out of fear, I ran inside my room”.

Edafeikpema stated that the robbers broke into his house, bailed him up and gave him the beaten of his life.

He said when the robbers demanded for N4 million, he told them that he does not have such money and nobody gave him such money, hence the hoodlums ransacked his house and removed the said cash and phones.

Edafeikpema who was visibly unsettled disclosed that the robbers took away his two phones, one Infinix Hot Note valued at N55,000 and SQ phone valued at N9,500 and his wife’s Infinix phone valued at N58,000.

He said while the operation lasted, five of the robber were inside his house all armed with AK47 rifles while two were outside keeping watch. He said the robbers were not herdsmen, saying that they were speaking good English and pidgin during the operation.

When contacted, State Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, in a telephone conversation said that he has not been briefed of the incident, and asked if the incident was reported to any of the police station in the state capital. When told that the matter was reported at the GRAs Police Division Asaba, he promised to revert back but never did as of time of filling this story for publication Friday night.