Ibori's Kinsmen, Not Relatives, Died In Auto Crash – Police

SAN FRANCISCO, February 26, (THEWILL) – The two kinsmen of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, who died in a ghastly motor accident, Monday, were not his blood relations, THEWILL has learnt.

The tragedy which initially threw entire Oghareki town in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state into mourning, also caused panic within Oghara, the country home of Ibori, when the news first broke that Ibori's brother was involved in the motor accident.

But they were a bit relieved on realising that the two prominent Oghara indigenes who died in the ghastly motor accident along the Benin-Asaba Expressway were not related to the former governor, a police source said.

The victims were identified as Chief Vincent Majemite and Chief John Akponeme.

Though details of the accident were still sketchy when filing this report, sources said that the community leaders of Oghareki were on their way to Asaba when the tyre of the car in which they were travelling busted and the vehicle somersaulted several times.

THEWILL learnt that efforts by passers-by and sympathisers to rescue the victims could not yield any positive result.

“The most painful aspect of the accident was not that the Jeep they were traveling in was gutted by fire, but that they were burnt beyond recognition,” an eye witness said.

When contacted on the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestine Kalu, who confirmed the incident Wednesday night said the victims were not related to Ibori contrary to speculation that Ibori lost two of his family members in the accident.