Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Ughelli, Delta State — Tragedy struck the Ughelli community late Saturday night as a 48-year-old poultry farmer was brutally killed in what local authorities and residents describe as a suspected armed attack, leaving his family and neighbours reeling and security agencies under pressure to respond. The victim, identified as Mr. Ukpevo Oghenekaro, was attacked near his poultry farm located along Iyede Road, behind the Ughelli Township Stadium, a busy suburban area that has seen rising concerns over violent crime in recent months.
According to preliminary accounts from residents and eyewitnesses, Mr. Oghenekaro was visiting his farm in the early hours of Sunday when assailants ambushed him and his son. The attackers, described by some witnesses as heavily armed and wearing dark clothing, opened fire without warning. Mr. Oghenekaro was struck by gunfire and succumbed to his wounds at the scene, while his son was shot and wounded during the exchange.
The son, whose name has not been publicly released, managed to escape further injury by falling to the ground and feigning death, according to accounts relayed by an activist involved in assisting the family after the incident. He later alerted neighbours and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment, where he remains under medical care.
Local community members described the attack as shocking and senseless, with many expressing anger and fear over a perceived increase in violent crimes in and around Ughelli. Poultry farming is a significant livelihood for many rural and peri-urban families in Delta State, and the killing has sent waves of anxiety through agricultural communities already wary of insecurity linked to armed gangs and criminal networks.
Family and neighbours have called on state authorities to deepen security patrols and expedite the investigation. An activist, identified as Israel Joe, urged the Delta State government to take immediate action, condemning what he described as a climate of impunity that emboldens criminals. He highlighted the need for robust policing and community engagement to stem violent attacks that threaten lives and livelihoods.
“The era where hospitals refuse treatment to victims of gunshot wounds until a police report is presented is over,” said Joe, referencing Nigeria’s Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017, a law that mandates immediate medical care for gunshot victims. He stressed that delayed emergency response could cost more lives if urgent reforms are not implemented.
Delta State, like many parts of southern Nigeria, has grappled with various forms of insecurity, including armed robbery, cult violence, and in some areas, incursions by criminal elements exploiting rural expanses. In recent years, incidents involving farmers and rural workers have drawn national attention, underscoring the broader challenges facing agricultural communities across Nigeria.
Security analysts say that while some violent incidents in Nigeria’s rural regions are linked to banditry and herder-farmer conflicts, others are opportunistic attacks by heavily armed criminal gangs taking advantage of limited law enforcement capacity in peripheral communities. They note that sustained insecurity poses a serious threat not only to public safety but also to food production and rural economic stability.
Nigeria’s Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, enacted to ensure prompt medical attention for shooting victims without the prerequisite of a police report, was highlighted by activists in the wake of this latest attack. They argue that effective implementation of this law is critical, particularly in areas where trauma care is scarce and emergency response times can be prolonged.
In the hours following the killing, officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Ufuoma Division in Ughelli, reportedly recovered Mr. Oghenekaro’s body and began preliminary investigations. Delta State police command has not yet issued an official public statement on the incident, but community leaders say they were told officers are canvassing the area for suspects and gathering witness statements.
The State governor and senior security officials have been urged to address the rising insecurity in rural and peri-urban Delta State. Local civic groups are calling for enhanced community policing structures and improved coordination between security agencies and residents to deter similar attacks.
This killing comes amid broader concerns over violent crime in Nigeria’s agricultural sectors. While this incident’s precise motive remains under investigation, similar attacks in other states have sometimes been attributed to criminal gangs, disputes over land or herder-farmer tensions. Agricultural workers in several regions have faced threats from armed groups, complicating efforts to expand food production and rural economic growth.
Farmers and rural dwellers in Delta State and beyond have repeatedly called for stronger security measures. Many communities, especially those reliant on subsistence and commercial farming, feel particularly vulnerable to sudden outbreaks of violence and insecurity. The government’s response to these security concerns is being closely watched, as livelihoods and lives remain at stake.
For the family of Mr. Oghenekaro, the focus now is on ensuring justice and recovery. Residents of Ughelli and neighbouring communities have held informal vigils and prayer sessions, mourning the loss of a respected member of their agricultural community. Funeral arrangements were reported to be underway as relatives and friends prepared to lay him to rest in the coming days.
As investigations continue, the incident underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to protect rural communities, improve policing, and tackle the roots of violent crime in Nigeria’s countryside. Ensuring the safety of farmers and their families is central not only to community stability but also to safeguarding the nation’s agricultural productivity and food security.
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