Perpetrator of popular otokoto saga, Vincent Duru, finally executed 20 years after!

Chief Vincent 'Otokoto' Duru has finally been executed 20 years after gruesome beheading of Ikechukwu Okonkwo. Twenty years after the inglorious Otokoto saga which set Owerri, the Imo State Capital and Nigeria on fire over the gruesome beheading of little Ikechukwu Okonkwo at the then Otokoto Hotel along Amakohia in Owerri, the proprietor of the Hotel, Chief Vincent Duru (alias Otokoto) has reportedly been hanged in the prison.

According to reports, he met the hangman on Sunday 13^th November, 2016. Chief Duru, who was sentenced to death by hanging by an Imo State High

Court in 1996 presided over by Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme was allegedly hanged last Sunday after the Imo State government reportedly approved the execution warrant. It was not confirmed who in particular signed the death warrant.

It would be recalled that the heartless murder of little boy, Okonkwo in 1996 triggered massive uprising by the residents of Owerri, the state capital, which resulted to the arrest of Chief Duru and his son, Obicheozor, in connection with the heinous crime which was ascribed to rituals at the time. Okonkwo was beheaded under a palm tree, but unknown to the killers, there was a palm wine tapper high up the tree when the killing was taking place. It was this eyewitness who pointed out the killers, who in turn identified Chief Duru and his son as their sponsors.

Investigations carried out then revealed that the then famous Otokoto Hotel was housing many shallow graves which led to angry mob setting the hotel on fire and government locking up the premises. The street where the Hotel was located was later named after the murdered boy, Ikechukwu Okonkwo.

After two years of strenuous legal trials, Chief Otokoto and his son were condemned to death by hanging. His son, Obicheozor was immediately executed among other criminals by firing squad.

The death sentence was appealed by the accused persons and after 18 years of legal fireworks, the appellant court upheld the judgment of the lower court.

Chief Duru (Otokoto) had been remanded at the Port-Harcourt Federal Prison but was said to have been finally executed last Sunday after the state government was said to have given consent for the Umudim Community in Ikeduru Local Government Area born business mogul, who owned the then Otokoto Pharmacy at Douglas Road in Owerri, to be hanged.

Investigation further revealed that Imo residents who heard of the recent execution of Chief Duru who was over 60 years by the time he was jailed expressed surprise that he was still alive after several reports and speculations that he had long been hanged in the prison.