The traditional ruler and District Head of Edikwu community in Apa Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state, Chief Stephen Ochekwu has been reportedly murdered in his sleep by unknown armed men.

The death of the royal father was confirmed in a statement made by the State Police Command in Makurdi which stated that the royal father was shot at his residence where he had been living on self-imposed exile in Ugbokpo, the Apa LG Headquarters.

According to the statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene “on December 31, 2021 at about 12:45am an information was received that Chief Stephen Ada Ochekwu of Ukpogo Edikwu village, Apa LGA of Benue state, but resident in Ugbokpo town and a Chief of Edikwu community who was suspended and recently reinstated by Benue state government over a Chieftaincy crisis in his community was shot on his stomach in his house by unknown persons while asleep.

“The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital before being transferred to Otukpo town for further medical attention.

“He eventually died at the hospital as a result of the gunshot injury. Investigation into the matter is in progress.”

CEOAFRICA gathered that before his gruesome murder, Chief Ochekwu who since 2014 was on self-imposed exiled and resided in Ugbokpo over a prolonged chieftaincy dispute in his community was recently reinstated to his position after being suspended from office by the state government in the year 2020 following the protracted crisis and killings in his domain.

The crisis according to findings which erupted in 1994 over the people of Edikwu’s preference for District Head had in 2014 escalated and claimed the lives of six people, including two personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, who were murdered by a gang of militia.