Murder of Liberty: Ughere’s reaction, suggests dangerous tribal undercurrent – Group declares

Global Network for Good Governance and Rights Concern Initiative, says the praises showered on the PPRO of Delta State Police Command, Edafe Bright, by President of the Youth Wing of UPU, Blessed Ughere, shortly after the controversial murder of Kunu Liberty, “suggests a dangerous tribal undercurrent in the state's security operations.”

The group, in an electronic statement made available to Fresh Angle International, Thursday January 29, alleged that Mr. Liberty was allegedly led into a fatal conspiracy, by those who had invited him.

The Executive Director of Global Network for Good Governance and Rights Concern Initiative, Barrister Dennis Mene, who authored the statement, described the late Liberty, as a law-abiding citizen, who dedicated his life to assisting the police in curtailing the activities of criminal gangs in and around Sapele.

The statement, reads: “We formally demand a thorough and transparent investigation into the shocking extrajudicial murder of Mr. Kunu Liberty, the Commander of SOS Delta State, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Sapele.

“The late Liberty was a law-abiding citizen, who dedicated his life to assisting the police in curtailing the activities of criminal gangs in and around Sapele. Reliable reports indicate that on the day of the incident, he was invited by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Sapele Division for what he believed to be a routine security consultation.

“Instead of a professional engagement, Mr. Liberty was allegedly led into a fatal conspiracy. Rather than receiving protection or cooperation, he was reportedly extrajudicially killed by those who had invited him. This betrayal of trust is a dark stain on the reputation of the Delta State Police Command. A Pattern of Selective Silence and Tribal Bias It is deeply concerning that shortly after this murder, Blessed Ughere, President of the Urhobo Youth Wing (UPU), was observed publicly praising the Delta State Police Command PPRO Edafe for a "job well done".

“This selective celebration of violence against perceived "strong men" of other ethnicities suggests a dangerous tribal undercurrent in the state's security operations. This incident mirrors the tragic murder of Dele Ogunbayo, an Itsekiri vigilante head, who was extrajudicially killed by military personnel in the Pessu Community on September 18, 2025.

“In that case, despite eyewitness accounts of a targeted execution, the military labelled him a "neutralized criminal" to justify his death.

“Our Demands:

“1. Independent Judicial Inquiry:

We call on the Inspector General of Police, Delta State Government and the Police Service Commission to institute an independent panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kunu Liberty’s invitation to the Sapele Division and his subsequent death.

“2. The DPO who issued the invitation, must be suspended immediately and made to account for the safety of the individual invited to his station.

“3. We demand an end to the systematic silencing of community leaders, under the guise of "security operations."

“4. The life of every Nigerian, regardless of ethnicity, is sacred. We will not remain silent while those tasked with protecting lives become the agents of their destruction.”

×