*** Deceased’s Mother Narrowly Escaped Death
Gunmen suspected to be assailants have reportedly shot dead, Mr. Onovughe Jovi, a son of the owner of popular Jovi Garden Hotel along Otor-Udu Road by Otuama Quarters in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, late Chief Stephen Jovi.
The unknown gunmen had waylaid the deceased’s vehicle in company of his mother, Mrs Agnes Jovi, and shot him dead.
The incident, it was gathered, took place on Tuesday at about 7 pm when the deceased and his mother were returning to the hotel. It was gathered that a family meeting for the burial ceremony of the popular Hotelier was held on Sunday, February 2, 2020 and on Tuesday the gunmen struck.
They were said to have been ambushed by their attackers along the Ekete Inland road leading to Ovwian junction.
It was gathered that the gunmen also shot the deceased’s mother, but narrowly escaped death. Efforts to speak to the mother of ten (Nine males and one female) were not successful as she was said to be in a deep shock.
The owner of Jovi Garden Hotel, Chief Jovi with several Children from different women died in 2019 after a brief illness and to be buried Friday, February 21, 2020 before the killing of his son. The only female Mrs Agnes Jovi had for the late Chief Jovi, our sources disclosed, got married last year , adding that preparations for the marriage were on when the popular Hotelier joined his ancestors.
Sources revealed that the gunmen may have mistaken the late Onovughe for his elder brother who had been managing the hotel since the demise of their father, adding that the current manager of the hotel and his mother may have been the main targets of the assailants.
The late Onovughe, according to sources, was actually relaxing on his bed when his mother appealed to him to take her out on a ride to the market to get some items and on their way back home, they stopped at a Pharmacy to get some drugs and as soon they stopped, they were blocked by a Jeep and the gunmen came out and opened fire on them. The deceased was later rushed to the Warri Central Hospital, but never made it.
It was not clear what led to the killing of Onovughe as at the time of filing this report.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa confirmed the incident through the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ovwian/Aladja Police Station, Mr Akinzo Gbosa, to our correspondent on Thursday.
He said the deceased was shot dead while driving with his mother and no arrest had been made.
