Two persons were arrested in the early hours of Saturday in connection with the shooting and killing of four persons in the Hausa/Fulani settlement within Abraka market, Asaba in Delta State on Friday.
The suspects, Abraham Ndudi (24) from Kwale and Okereke Ifeanyi (21) a native of Ogbaru in Anambra State were arrested while allegedly hiding in the ceiling of a major hotel in Abraka.
They had allegedly fled into the hotel’s ceiling in a bid to escape arrest, Tribune Online reported.
A third suspect, identified as Last Burial, said to be on the run, is being trailed by police operatives to effect his arrest.
Three armed men, said to be in black outfits and suspected to be members of a cult group or Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) allegedly fired indiscriminately into the market at about 10:45pm on Friday.
The shootings, according to the police, led to the death of four persons identified as Usman Abdullahi (45), Ali Sidi (70), Ibrahim Zubairu (30) and Hauwa (surname unknown), 22).
Five persons were also allegedly injured and are currently recuperating at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, in a statement on Saturday, confirmed the incident.
He said that investigation had “commenced on the incident with a view to finding out the motive behind the shooting and the possible involvement of other conspirators in the unwarranted shooting and wounding of innocent persons.”
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Delta Command, CP Zanna Ibrahim, has enjoined the non-indigenes and indigenes alike not to panic or contemplate any reprisal action as the law will take its course.
While commiserating with relations of the deceased and the injured, the CP assured Deltans and residents of the state, that the police would do everything possible to ensure safety of lives and property.
