Mysterious Death of Two Tricyclists Shocks Asaba Residents

• Police debunk reports of farmers/herdsmen clash in Delta

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Asaba, the Delta State capital, has been gripped by shock and fear following the mysterious death of two men believed to be commercial motorcyclists operating in the city.

This followed the finding of the decomposing bodies of the two tricyclists apparently killed and dumped in an undeveloped plot of land in Asaba by yet unidentified assailants.
The remains of the two men were reportedly found in an undeveloped area near the Old Deputy Governor’s Office on the Onitsha-Asaba expressway, within the Asaba metropolis.

A police officer, who was said to have taken his car for repairs in a mechanic workshop in the area, reportedly made the startling discovery.

The policeman reportedly found the decomposing bodies when an offensive smell from the spot aroused his curiosity and he decided to find out the source of the offensive odour.

News of the mysterious deaths has caused fear among residents of the relatively small and close capital city, particularly tricycle and motorcycle riders who were said to have identified the corpses as those of their colleagues.

Nevertheless, as the shock-find created concern among residents of the area and other parts of Asaba, members of the Hausa/Fulani community who were attracted by the report and have allegedly identified the deceased as Mr Abubakar Suleiman and Mr Hamza Abdulahi Alhaji who were reported missing two weeks ago.
The police are working on the possibility that both victims were killed by the attackers who also dispossessed them of their tricycles.

However, THISDAY learnt that this was not the first time the corpses of persons killed in mysterious circumstances would be dumped in the undeveloped plot of land as similar incidents had occurred in the past.
Confirming the incident, the Delta State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, said the state commissioner had met on the matter with the officers and men with a view to unraveling the deaths.
Aniamaka however cautioned commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists “to be security conscious” and to avoid late night operations.

The police spokesman disclosed that four persons had been arrested in connection with the killing, including a spray-painter who was allegedly found with one of the tricycles belonging to the deceased. Under the Delta State regulations on the operation of tricycles in Asaba and other towns across the state, commercial motorcyclists and motorcycles should not operate in Asaba after 10p.m.

Meanwhile, the state police command has in an e-mailed statement, denied reports of any clash between farmers and herdsmen in certain communities in Delta State. According to the statement by the spokesman, report of the alleged clash was contained “some national dailies” but the publication was based on falsehood.

“The command also notes that such unfounded reports are unprofessional, misleading and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order,” it said, adding, “While calling on journalists to always verify their stories from relevant authorities before rushing to press, the command urges the public to disregard the reports as it will continue to do everything within its power and the law towards ensuring that peace and safety reign supreme in the state.”