REAR ADMIRAL IKOLI WAS ASSASSINATED BY AN INSIDER~~IJAW GROUP

The Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command, Apapa, Rear Admiral Teikumo Daniel Ikoli was found shot to death in his apartment at Tamandu Barracks, leading to shock and confusion, a group, the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI,  said that the deceased was assassinated by an insider.

The group, led by its national president, Mr Austin Ozobo, in a press release, urged the presidency, police and Department of State Security (DSS), to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident and solve the puzzle.

The death of Ikoli has been described as mysterious. While some people in the area said he was assassinated, others insisted that he commit suicide. The Admiral was found with a pistol lying on top of his chest. He was alleged to have been shot inside the mouth.

Another naval officer, who worked with him said: “His wife is in Abuja and his children school abroad. His orderly and Naval Assistant (NA) usually leave after dropping him. The bullet hit him on the chest. Three bullets were seen in his room. No one can really tell what happened but the position he was seen suggests he might have been scared of something or someone.”
Lieutenant Commander Chinwe Umar, described the matter as domestic accident, stressing that police had been invited and investigation was ongoing.
It was further heard that Ikoli was appointed into the presidential committee on the probe of arms deal.

According to Ozobo, Ikoli, as Ijaw man, was assassinated. He said: “ Ikoli was assassinated by enemies of Ijaw nation, who did all their best to stop him from rising to the rank of Chief of Naval Staff. We strongly debunk the unfounded media report which claimed that he shot himself in his bedroom. Ikoli did not shoot himself. He was grudgingly assassinated by an insider. It’s our candid demand that Federal Government of Nigeria through the office of Chief of Naval and Defence Staff should thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the death of Rear Admiral Ikoli.”

The group further stated: "It’s not possible that he shot himself ; as a highly- placed officer, he didn’t  carry gun, except his orderly.  He was suspected to have been murdered by perceived enemies who have envisaged that he may likely take over from the current serving naval chief by May or end of June, 2017. It’s a well-planned underground conspiracy. How could he have shot himself three times as accounted by reporters, who got to the scene of the incident?

"This is another attempt to eliminate senior Ijaw serving military chiefs. This is the same conspiracy that led to the death of former National Security Adviser, NSA, late General Owoye Azazi, who hailed from Bayelsa State and now, it’s the turn of Rear Admiral Ikoli.”

The Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, assured Nigerians and naval personnel that it would do everything within its power to unravel the puzzles of Ikoli’s death.
According to the police, it would carry out a forensic analysis of the recovered pistol and bullets found in the apartment.

A police source said that forensic analysis would be done on pistol and bullets. The source said that the police needed to make sure that the bullets were from the pistol.
“The man who found the Admiral and raised the alarm had been invited and quizzed,” said the police source.