The entertainment industry in Edo State and Nigeria in general on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 woke up to the heart wrecking news of the
gruesome murder of Edo’s two most talented movie practitioners, an act
that has cast a dark cloud on the future of movie industry.

The circumstances which the duo were reported to have been killed appeared like a movie script that was played out on that day. Ace actor
cum comedian, Erhauyi Ogbeide a.k.a. ‘Ukeke’, according to
investigation was said to have received an invitation to come to his
father in-law’s residence, where it was learnt that he had gone to seek
intervention in his matrimonial dispute.

LEADERSHIP however learnt that no sooner had ‘Ukeke’ in company of his colleague, Eghosa Idehen settled for the discussion to commence,
than armed men obviously on their trail force themselves into the
compound and opened fire on ‘Ukeke’ while his colleague who had taken
refuge in a toilet in the compound was equally gunned down not even his
plea to spare his life could assuage the killers.

As the shockwaves of the dastardly act continue to grip the ancient city, over twenty other persons in a cult related war were reportedly
gunned down at different locations in the city in a renewed
confraternity war between groups identified as Black Axe and Maphite
confraternities.

The assassination of the two movie producers coupled with the renewed cult war have further opened up another possibility that the
assassination could be linked to a reprisal attack. Be that as it were,
the immediate reasons why the middle aged artistes were cut down at the
peak of their profession remained a mystery for security agents in the
state.

Erhauryi, popularly known as ” Ukeke” unarguably was one of the biggest exporters in Edo movies. The duo took the Edo movie industry by
a storm in 1990 with a movie entitled ‘Prophet Ukeke’ thus confirming
‘Ukeke’ as a talented actor whose acts have culminated into the release
of over thirty other movies in Benin languages. Having carved a niche
in the industry both at home and among Edo’s indigenes in Diaspora,
Ukeke, a graduate of the University of Benin, was said to have concluded
plans to embark on a six European tour with his latest work before he
fell to the bullets.

Lovers of Edo movies and stakeholders in the ancient city on hearing the sad news, staged a protest over the killing. The members of movie
practitioners who came out in their thousands dressed in black attires,
marched through major streets of the metropolis and finally terminated
at Government House.

The Edo State Governor, who received the news over the killing of the two movie practitioners, expressed deep sorrow. In a condolence letter
addressed to the the Congress of Edo Movie Practitioners, Oshiomhole
said: “I learnt with deep shock about the tragic death of our foremost
movie and entertainment practitioners. I wish to convey to you and all
your colleagues and the people of Edo State as well my personal
commiseration. Their death is a great blow to the entertainment
industry; they made such fundamental contributions to the growth of the
movie industry in Edo State and brought happiness to thousands of fans
at home and abroad. We pray God to grant them eternal rest. We also pray
God to comfort their families, friends and colleagues in this difficult
period,” Oshiomhole mourned.

In a similar vein, the Special Assistant to the governor on Arts and Culture, described the duo as the leading lights of Edo rich artistic
and cultural heritage. He said the killing of the artistes has cast a
dark cloud on the land. “No doubt the artistes community will miss them
dearly, so also the entire people of Edo State both home and abroad
whose hearts they daily filled with laughter and humour in their off
moments”.

The effort of the state government to ensure the safety of lives and property of its citizens appeared threatened with the spate of murder
cases in the state. Since the renewed cult clash, security in the state
has been beefed up according to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP
Peter Ogboi.

According to him, “I cannot tell you all we have been doing to stop this dastardly act. But all I can tell you is that we are on top of it.
We have made some arrest and we are clamping down on the cultists. We
are also looking at those who were arrested but were charged to court in
the past. We are also going to hold meetings with community leaders and
other stakeholders because those committing this crime come from one
community or the other”.