Two human rights lawyers shot dead in Delta

Legal practitioners in Delta state have been thrown into mourning following the gruesome assassination of two lawyers on Thursday.

Renowned lawyer and human rights activist Mr Horrace Egbon Dafiogho and his junior colleague, identified as Sam Ekwajor, were shot dead along Ughelli – Ozoro road on Thursday.

It was gathered that the duo were on their way to Ozoro, where they are defending suspects in a high profile kidnap case involving a prominent politician in the state, when they were killed.

Although the circumstance surrounding the killing was yet unclear, it was gathered that the incident has led to shock and panic among legal practitioners in the state.

The National Coordinator, Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, told our reporter he was stupefied by the development.

He said, “It was last night that I just heard the news and it is very surprising to me. Why would anybody kill a lawyer and an activist who spends his time defending the less privileged in the society?”

Our reporter gathered that prior to his death on Thursday the legal practitioner had raised the alarm over threat on his life.

One his colleagues told our reporter, “He even told the judge hearing one of his cases that his life was being threatened.”