Activist petitions IGP over father’s death, vandalisation of property

A political activist and social entrepreneur, Erejuwa Elohor Austine,  has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Usman Ali Baba  over the attack on his house by suspected political thugs whom he alleged were working for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state.

Some political thugs allegedly working for a top politician in Ekpan in Uvwie LGA of Delta state where Erejuwa was also from were said to have invaded the home of the activist in January 16, 2019⁷, vandalising the property and killing his octogenarian father, Pa Erejuwa who was at home when the attack occurred.

It would be recalled that Erejuwa Elohor Austine has been having issues with some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not just in his Ekpan in Uvwie LGA but also in Asaba, the Delta state capital over his political views considered to be too critical to the reelection bid of the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

While some chieftains of the party have denied any involvement in the attack, Erejuwa in his petition insisted that neigbours who were around when the thugs invaded said they specifically called for his head over his loggerheads with the ruling party.

“When they didn’t find me at home, the thugs decided to vandalised my home chanting words like “Eloho will know that politics is not for children”, “Anywhere we find Eloho, we’ll kill him”, “he has no place to hide” and many other threatening words.”

When contacted, Erejuwa Elohor Austine who spoke via mobile phone from an unknown location, said he had to flee the country because of the constant harassment and the inability of the police to guarantee his safety.

Erejuwa Elohor, who said he was not a member of any political party, but only agitating for good governance in his home state of Delta said he lost everything and could no longer walk freely because of the death threats by these political thugs.

“This was not the first time I have been threatened over my political views. Then it used to be subtle threats and blackmails. I guess they took serious offence to my criticism which of course was not personal.”

He said, “This is not the Nigerian democracy our heroes’ past envisaged, political thugs of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state are after my life. They have already killed my father.

“I was almost abducted from my home some times in February 2019 if not for the strong presence of some youths in my community. This has made it clear that nowhere is safe for me as it is obvious that I am a target and these persons are trailing me.

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“Infact,  some leaders in my community advised me to leave Delta state, strongly suggesting to me that no matter where I was within Nigeria, I would be traced and killed.

“I am calling on the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to come to my aid as I am now living in perpetual fear for the lives of my family. They have continued to harass them, demanding that they produce me or face dire consequences.

“I have lodged a complaint to the police and the officers promised to investigate the matter, but nothing has come out of it but more threats to my friends and family in the state.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Edafe Bright said the Command did receive Eloho’s complaint, but is yet to get a comprehensive report from Uvwie Divisional Police headquarters, and therefore cannot comment much on the matter.