By Okhide Em’ya David..
It was a gory sight on Tuesday afternoon at Upper Sakponba axis of Benin City, Edo State Nigeria, following the gruesome murder of a Carpenter popularly called “Papa Mali.”
There was pandemonium as the unmasked gunmen invaded the Okabere area of Upper Sakponba and shot Papa Mali in the front entrance of his workshop.
The bewildered Residents described “Papa Mali” as an easy going person.
An eye witness narrated that the gunmen stormed the workshop at about 3.30 pm, dragged the Carpenter out of his engagement before” shooting him severally.”
The assassins were said to have later fired gunshots into the air to scare off possible resistance from neighbors who scampered for safety on realizing that they were endangered by stray bullets.
The Hoodlums having scared off the people waited patiently for the man to die before they left the scene.
Some of the late Carpenter’s neighbors said he was quite easy going, hard-working and generally known to be an unassuming man.
They wondered why he was killed by the assailants and called on the police to bring his killers to justice.
The lifeless body of the young man was still lying at the spot where he was murdered an hour after the tragic incident while the area was deserted as fear gripped the entire neighborhood.
Although none of those who commented on the savage act could ascertain the cause of the killing, the general mood was that the incident may not be unconnected with cult-related clashes which have been heightened shortly after the #EndSARS riots which led to jail breaks in Benin.
As at the time of this report the police could not be reached for comment and have not identified the deceased.
Lifeless body of late “Papa Mali” lying in pool of his own blood after the gun attack.
