Chidi Samuel || Oyawerikumor Peregbabofa, suspected militant leader, who was declared wanted and accused of killing Ian Squire, a British missionary, has surrendered to Operation Delta Safe, the joint task force in the Niger Delta.
Suleiman Apochi, commander of the task force, told Channels Television in an interview said the suspect surrendered under superior firepower during a JTF operation.
Though the commander did not give details of where the suspect was apprehended, he disclosed that the operation is still ongoing to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to book.
Peregbabofa and others allegedly abducted four British missionaries – David and Shirley Donovan, Ian Squire, and Alanna Carson, on October 13, 2017, at Enekorogha community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Three of those abducted regained their freedom afterwards, but Squire lost his life in the kidnappers’ den.
In the aftermath, Karo-Owei Pere Gbakumor, an indigene of Enekorogha community, was declared wanted and a bounty of N2million was announced for information leading to his arrest.
Late Ian Squire, working in Nigeria in 2015
Three of those abducted regained their freedom afterwards, but Squire lost his life in the kidnappers’ den.
Recounting how Squire was killed in an interview with The Telegraph, David said the late missionary had lifted the group’s spirit while playing Amazing Grace — a Christian song — with a guitar.
“It was the perfect song, and at that point, things began to look not quite as bad. But then, after Ian finished playing, he stood up, and a salvo of gunshots killed him instantly,” he had said in an interview with UK Telegraph.
“We didn’t see who did it, but it was obvious that someone in the gang had shot him. It was terrifying to see. We jumped out of the shack and into the water as we thought they were coming for us next, but a member of the gang came and put us back in there with Ian for the rest of the day.”