Gunned Down At Dusk

By Annette Edo
Monday, October 13, 2003

John Uchenma, a labour leader in Delta State,shot and killed in his house in circumstances still confounding to the police

John Onwego Uchenma, a 44-year-old labour leader and assistant chief auditor of Post Primary Education Board, PPEB, Delta State, woke up hale and hearty. His work schedule on that fateful day was to travel on an official assignment to Ashaka, an agrarian community in Delta State for a union meeting in his capacity as the chairman of National Association of Senior Staff Union, NASU. He actually travelled and returned home early. Nothing gave him advance warning that he had only a few hours on earth. He was murdered later in the day by unknown assailants, who had allegedly trailed him to the gate of his residence located on Augustine Okolo Street, off Direct Labour Agency, DLA Road, Asaba.

Newswatch learnt that before the security guard could open the gate for Uchenma, the assailants alighted from a motor cycle and shot him on the neck at close range. He was reported to have died on the spot, while the perpetrators of the heinous act jumped on their waiting motor cycle and sped off. Nothing was stolen from his pockets nor from his red Honda Accord car with registration Number CZ 230 LND.

Theresa Isioma, Uchenma's wife and staff of the Delta State House of Assembly, said she was in the bathroom at about 7:00 p.m. that day when she heard a gunshot which sounded very faint. She said she had responded immediately to the shrill sound by calling on Mohammed, the guard who did not answer. She rushed out immediately and was surprised to find that the guard was nowhere in sight. "The gate was locked and so I had to jump through the fence only to find my husband lying in the pool of his own blood," she said.

Neighbours later rushed out to join her in conveying her husband to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, where he was confirmed dead and his corpse was deposited in the mortuary. She said the incident was immediately reported at the "A" division of the Nigeria Police, Asaba where Patrick Chukwu, the divisional police officer, DPO, said the case would be investigated.

Isioma ruled out the theory that her husband could have been a victim of armed bandits. She explained that if her husband's death was at the instance of armed robbers, his personal effects which included his Honda Accord car, his identity card and a purse containing the sum of N14, 000 would have been taken away by the robbers.

Tony Uchenma, elder brother of the deceased and staff of the National Electric Power Authority, NEPA, Nnewi in Anambra State, was dumbfounded, by his brothers death. Tony, who spoke amidst tears said: "I received my brother's death with shock. He was an embodiment of peace, humility and was in good relationship with his friends, neighbours and colleagues in the office. I do not know who is responsible for his death, neither do I know why he was killed, "he said. He, however, noted that sometime ago, he had aspired to represent Illah ward under the platform of the United Nigeria Peoples Party, UNPP in the recently-postponed council elections. But he could not say if this was related to his murder.

Victor Obasuyi, the state police public relations officer, PPRO, confirmed and said, investigations were already going on and that the culprits would be found and punished.

Uchenma's remains have been buried in Illah in Oshimili North Local Government of Delta State, September 6. He is survived by his wife and a son.