Gunmen kill 82-year-old chief priest in Edo

Some gunmen have shot dead an 82-year-old community leader, Clifford Omosomwan, in Aruogba, in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was learnt that Omosomwan was also the Chief Priest (Ohen-Ogba) of Aruogba community.

According to sources, the octogenarian was shot after the assailants gained access into his apartment at about 1am on Thursday.

One of the sources, who pleaded not to be named, said, “The partially blind man was shot twice in the head at close range.”

It was, however, learnt that his body was later deposited in the military hospital on Airport Road in Benin, the state capital.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Osifo, said he had yet to be briefed on the incident.

There had been reports of violence in Aruogba community for over a year, which also claimed the life of the assistant head of the community, Mr. Goodluck Uwumahongie, who was beheaded in January 2015.

The head of the victim, who had since been buried, was said to have been taken away and had not been recovered.