Okowa’s aide shot dead

Lawrence Akpomiemie, special adviser on youth development to Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state, has been killed by unknown gunmen.

Akpomiemie was reportedly killed by gunmen on Friday night in Ekpan, a community in Uvwie local government area of Delta state.

Confirming the incident to TheCable, Adeyinka Adeleke, the state’s commissioner of police, said a notification had been put out to “unravel the cause of the murder”.

“Yes, he was shot dead in the night. I am on my way to Ekpan now. The notification is on to unravel the cause of that murder,” Adeleke said in a phone conversation.

On the day of his death, the deceased was said to have attended a series of political meetings ahead of the presidential and national assembly elections.

His last meeting for the day was to be at the house of Efe Ofobruku, a member of the Delta state house of assembly representing Uvwie constituency.  

Witnesses said Akpomiemie was shot at close range by unidentified gunmen during an outing with his girlfriend on the same night.

Before his appointment as Okowa’s aide in 2016, Akpomimie was charged for a number of crimes including murder but was released from prison under “controversial” circumstances.

Akpomiemie’s death is the latest in a string of killings that have occurred in Ekpan community.