A popular reggae and highlife star,
Mr. John Kalu, popularly known as Python Killer has been killed. The late music
star was murdered in cold blood on Saturday evening, Saturday, March 29, 2014
at his residence in Owanta, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta
State, in the presence of his wife and children. Mr. Kalu who is also addressed
as Shaaba, Ika Weekly gathered was an Igbo man but was born and brought up in
Boji-Boji Owa. He also married from Owa kingdom. The father of three children
(two boys and a girl) came into Lime light and became a household name in Ika
land when he released his debut album titled “Enyi Egbuowe” in 2007. Not much
has been heard of him until the news of his brutal murder by yet to be
identified gunmen who invaded his house on a motor-cycle.
The
wife of the deceased, Mrs. Bridget Kalu who spoke to Ika Weekly in tears during
the week at their Owanta residence said one of the killers of her husband who
she claimed to be a member of Aye cult group was before that day a regular
vistor to their house, saying that the yet to be identified cultist had been
asking her husband to rent a part of their house to him but that they turned
down the request.
According
to Mrs. Kalu, “the said boy who shot my husband on the neck after he and other
boys invaded our house on a motorcycle is a student in one of the tertiary
institution in Ika land. Another reason why they killed my husband was not
unconnected with the warning he gave to them not to be smoking Indian hemp
“Igbo” in our compound as they had at several occasions threatened my husband,
saying that they are going to tell him that they are Omo Boys. They boasted
that if they did not succeed in killing
him they will drive him away from Owanta. On the day they finally carried out
their evil plan, we were all in the house when we noticed the presence of the
suspected cult boys pacing up and down making phone calls until around 7. Pm
when they struck. She appealed to relevant authorities in the state to take
necessary actions and bring the killer of her husband to book. The remains of
Python killer has since been deposited in one of the mortuaries in Ika land
while the Owa Oyibu police who confirmed the report has zoomed into action.
However,
an in-law to the popular music star, Chief Friday Eluro, the Onyewe buodason of
Owa kingdom while reacting to the incident said he was shocked when he received
the news of Python killer’s death. He described the late Mr. Kalu as a social,
humble, hardworking and peaceful man who was never a member of any cult group.
He said that he would stop at nothing just to make sure the killers of his
in-law are brought to book.
In
the words of Chief Friday Eluro, “the death of my in-law, Mr. John Kalu came as
a big shock to me. I never expected that such an easy going, hardworking and
peaceful man, who never belonged to any cult group will be kileld in his prime.
We have discovered who the killers are, we will apprehend them one day even if
they run to abroad. I want to tell the likes of fabulous, Emma, Charles, Friday
and others that they are not going to run forever for they will meet their
waterloo one day. Owanta is a peaceful community made up of good and
hardworking people, we do not want cult
boys to destroy our land. The security agents in Ika land have done their best
but as indigenes, we are going to take up the fight against cultism seriously.
Just as Mary Blessor stopped the killing of twins in Calabar. I, Chief Friday
Eluro will ensure that cultism ends in Ika land. I am not a cultist and not a friend
to any of them. I will never be one. I hate cultism and their activities, they
should leave Owanta now or regret while they are living. Just recently, the
wife of Magistrate Andrew Eboagun was
murdered in their house, Mr. Obodoagwu son was also killed in broad day light.
We are saying enough is enough to all these killings, our land should not be
converted to a battle field. I am appealing to Ika traditional rulers to
support us to fight against cultism for I am out and prepared to pursue them
out Ika land. I am therefore advising parents to talk to their children for
anyone of them caught harboring their children who are cult members will go in
with them.
In
the same vein, not less than seven houses, and properties worth thousands of
naira have been destroyed by youths in the area following the news of the death
of Python killer. The angry youths who said that they have given all cultists
in the area ultimatum to leave refused to mention their names. However Ika
Weekly gathered that the house attacked by youths were the ones where the
suspected fleeing killers of Python killer are staying.
One
of the victims Mrs. Philomena Elueme denied having any relationship with the
suspected cult boys. She said she was in her house when a group of youths led
by a popular politician in Owanta attacked her house, atatcked, damaged and
stole some of her property including her jewelries valued about N2million. She
called on government authorities to quickly wade into the matter.
In
another development, a youth leader in Ika North East, Hon Friday Okoh, a.k.a
Hero escaped death on Sunday evening, March 29th, 2014 after his Honda Pilot Jeep he was inside was
attacked along Tete Street in Boji- Boji, Owa. On lookers who thronged to the
scene of the incident are still wondering how Hero escaped the attacked. When
contacted on phone, Hero confirmed that he was attack by unknown youths who
were armed with different dangerous weapons. Reacting on the issue the
Divisional Police Officer in charge of
Owa Oyibu police station condemned the recent activities of cultists In Ika
land saying that anyone caught will face the full weight of the law.
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