A Sixty-six-year old community leader in Ugbowo area of Benin City in Edo state, in southern Nigeria, was on Saturday night killed by gunmen who invaded his residence.

The deceased, Mr John Asemota, was the Odionwere (Clan Head) of Power-line community at Ugbowo.

The seven gunmen, were said to have attacked the late Asemota’s residence at about 9:30 p.m. and shot him in the head and back.

The deceased’s son, Mr Osemudiamen Asemota, who narrated the incident to NAN, also said three of his father’s tenants were also shot.

He said his father died on the spot, while his tenants were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where they were receiving treatment.

Osemudiamen said the incident was reported at the Ogbowo Divisional Police Headquarters which responded promptly by coming to the scene shortly after the incident occurred.

“It was the police that took my father’s body to the mortuary, while they also rushed those were shot to hospital for medical attention.”

He, however, ruled out possibility of robbery, alleging that his father was killed over community issues.

When the NAN called at the Ogbowo Divisional Police Headquarters, some officers confirmed the incident, but refused to comment on the incident.

Pleading anonymity, one of the officers who was drafted to the scene of the incident, said the matter would be handled appropriately.