ELEVEN arsonists suspected to be rival youths of Oghara community, Ethiope-West Local Government Area, Delta State, country home of an ex-governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, early hours of Tuesday, set fire to the residence of the youth chair, Mr Ejiro Efetobo.
The police at Oghara have launched a manhunt for the 11 suspects. The reason for the action was not clear, yesterday, but it has to do with leadership tussle.
However, Efetobo, his wife and children, who were fast asleep when the arsonists struck, were lucky to escape alive, as he put riskily confronted the gang.
The fire-raising happened few days after the immediate past governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, lifted the ban on youth activities in the community and charged the youths to be of good behavior.
It was gathered that the plan of the arsonists, who came with jerry cans of fuel, was to wipe out Efetobo and his family. They stormed his Ovade-Oghara apartment after scaling the high perimeter fence at about 2.00 am, immediately spread fuel round the house and lit fire.
Efetobo, who sustained injury on his left hand after forcing open his bullet -proof iron door with flaming fire free himself and his family from the thick smoke inside the house, said his wife suspected some movement within the compound before the fire and drew his attention.
Efetobo, who decried the action of the youths, told Vanguard that his tenure was not over, but some persons, who have been ripping off the community, did not want him to continue and felt the way to stop him was to eliminate him.
“I was in my house sleeping when they came and shouting that I cannot overrule them, they said they want to see how I will continue as chairman after they had killed me. So I had to come out from the room because if I had remained inside, they would have killed me and my family,” he said on phone.
He maintained that his leadership has benefited community, as he attracted patronage from government and Pan Ocean Oil Company to the area.
Efetobo appealed to the governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to provide him with enough security and financial assistance to repair his burnt house, saying the former governor, Dr. Uduaghan, lifted the ban on youth activities with good intention after the youth body, led by him, wrote him on the matter.
His words, “It has been two years that Uduaghan placed a ban on youth activities in Oghara, we wrote him about three weeks ago to life the ban and he invited the Ovie of Oghara, youth leaders and others”
“After admonishing us on why he placed the ban and hearing from us on why we want the ban lifted, he nullified the ban on grounds that two years is enough for us to have learnt our lessons, but you can see what has just happened. This is really sad,” he said.
Some elders, chiefs, youths and women of Ovade-Oghara community, who spoke to Vanguard, condemned the action of the rival youths, saying Efetobo has done well in transforming the community since he assumed office.
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