Gunmen have killed a Saudi Arabia-based oil expert, Ogacheko Atanu, in his Idah residence, Kogi State.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Saturday around 11pm when the deceased was about retiring to bed.
It was learnt that when the assassins stormed the compound, Ogacheko was asked to say his last prayers before he was shot several times.
His elder brother, Mr Ukubile Atanu, who is a lecturer in the Art and Design Department, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, confirmed the incident during a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday.
Ukubile, who could not hold back his tears while speaking to our correspondent on the incident, charged security agencies to bring his brother’s killers to justice.
He stated, “When they (gunmen) entered his compound around 11pm on Saturday, they told Ogacheko to say his last prayers before they would kill him. He told them that he would give them money if they spared his life, but they refused. That was how he was shot repeatedly. They didn’t touch the gateman.
“After he was killed, his gateman went straight to the police station to report the incident. This is a black day in our family. Those behind this evil act must be brought to justice.”
It was further learnt that the deceased, who is survived by four children and an 80-year-old mother, was billed to travel to Abuja on Sunday, where he was expected to connect a flight to Saudi Arabia.
The Police Public Relation Officer in the state, DSP William Aya, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the command received a report about the assassination around 5am on Sunday.
Aya stated, “The security guard of the deceased reported the incident at the Idah Police Division today (Sunday) around 5am that masked men numbering about four entered the compound of the deceased by scaling the fence.
“They told the security guard to open the gate, while the deceased was relaxing with his friend inside the compound. The gunmen told all of them to lie down. They later told the owner of the house to stand up and shot him. His body has been moved to the mortuary for autopsy and efforts are being intensified to get the perpetrators of this evil act.”
