A septuagenarian, Pa Chicago Okutu, met a tragic end Wednesday when he was allegedly burnt alive by his son in what residents describe as a drug-fuelled rampage that has sent shockwaves through Oghior Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
The suspect, identified as Saturday Okutu, is believed to have been under the influence of illicit substances, specifically a dangerous drug known locally as “Colorado,” before carrying out the heinous act.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of events that unfolded in the riverine community. What began as a heated exchange between father and son quickly degenerated into violence, culminating in the younger Okutu allegedly setting the family residence ablaze with his elderly father trapped inside.
A community member, who pleaded anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, told our correspondent that the suspect had exhibited erratic behaviour consistent with substance abuse prior to the attack.
“The boy had taken that hard drug they call Colorado. Before we knew what was happening, there was fire everywhere, and the old man could not escape,” the source recounted, his voice laden with grief.
The inferno claimed Pa Okutu’s life before neighbours could mount an effective rescue operation, leaving behind a charred structure and a community grappling with profound loss.
The tragedy has intensified anxieties about the proliferation of hard drugs among young people in rural communities across the state.
Local leaders warned that the incident may be symptomatic of a broader crisis requiring urgent intervention.
Moses Uchere, Esq., who recently completed his tenure as President General of Oghior Community, expressed horror at the development while speaking with journalists.
He issued a clarion call for coordinated action against substance abuse, emphasising the need for robust community education programmes.
“This is unacceptable. We must intensify our campaigns against drug abuse and ensure our young people understand the devastating consequences of these substances. Lives are being destroyed,” Uchere stated.
Community leaders have reportedly commenced preliminary investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death, though official police involvement remains unclear.
When contacted, SP Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, promised to provide details but had yet to respond as at the time of filing this report.