Soldier allegedly stabs man to death in Delta community

A soldier on Sunday, October 12, allegedly stabbed a young man identified as Ugo to death in the presence of his younger brother and cousin after he was beaten, molested, and assaulted near Plantation City Estate, Otokutu Community, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The soldier reportedly stabbed the deceased, whose wife is heavily pregnant, in the hand and ribs, leaving him with deep cuts. Ugo, said to be in his early thirties, was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Confirming the incident, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, in a WhatsApp message sent to our correspondent in Warri, said, “We received the complaint, that’s all I can say for now.”

Narrating the incident, the deceased’s younger brother, identified as Toshi, said he, his cousin, and the deceased were in his car to visit a friend at an estate after Plantation City. According to him, “When we reached the estate gate, there were two cars in front of us. The first car entered, the second car entered. When my brother was about to enter, the security man stopped us and asked who we came to see.”

Toshi said his brother explained that he wanted to see a friend who lived in the estate and was calling him on the phone when a soldier in army uniform approached and accused him of trying to force his way in. “My brother said no, that he stopped when the security man asked him to. Along the line, the soldier slapped him twice,” he stated.

He said his cousin intervened, questioning why the soldier slapped his brother. “The military man grabbed my brother from the window, held his clothes, and was still slapping him. My cousin told him to leave him, but the soldier continued. My brother came down from the car and asked why he was being slapped like that. The beating was too much,” Toshi recounted.

Toshi added that another soldier came out and asked why they were arguing with his superior. “Before we knew it, there was chaos. I moved the car aside to clear the road, and when I came back, I saw my brother in a pool of blood. They had stabbed him. The stab was very deep, in his hand and ribs. We rushed him to the hospital where he was confirmed dead,” he said.

He called on the police, the army hierarchy, and relevant authorities to investigate the incident and ensure justice is served, saying, “They threatened to kill him for talking to them that way. My brother didn’t deserve to die like that.”

Human Rights Activist, Comrade Israel Joe, condemned the act, describing it as a barbaric abuse of power. He urged the Delta State Police Command, led by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, and the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the matter, unravel the reason behind the killing, and ensure justice is done.