Popular Nigerian Footballer Shot Dead

GIOTV reports that a popular local Nigerian footballer simply identified as Ogaga has been shot dead by a member of the Agbarho Task Force vigilante in Agbarho, Ughelli North council area of Delta state.

It was reported that Ogaga, 25, who was among other young men playing football close to the palace, was shot for trespassing into the palace of the Agbarho monarch.

Though details of the incident were sketchy, it was learnt that in the course of the football match, the ball was mistakenly played into the palace premises.

The victim reportedly went to get the ball but ended up being shot with a pump-action rifle by the suspect.

However, other reports claim that there was an altercation between the victim (a regular face at the palace) and the suspect before the ugly incident.

There is a lingering kingship battle that led to a protest barely two weeks ago by traditional chiefs of Agbarho Kingdom against alleged imposition of a traditional ruler.

But it could not be ascertained if Friday’s killing was connected to the kingship tussle.

Spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident but noted that there was no football match in the picture.

He said: “They all stay in the palace. I think they know themselves. There is nothing like a ball. They were around the palace and they had a little disagreement. That was what led to the shooting,” Edafe said.

He added that the suspect is in police custody.