The entertainment industry in Edo State and Nigeria in general on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 woke up to the heart wrecking news of thegruesome murder of Edo’s two most talented movie practitioners, an actthat 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 actorcum comedian, Erhauyi Ogbeide a.k.a. ‘Ukeke’, according toinvestigation was said to have received an invitation to come to hisfather in-law’s residence, where it was learnt that he had gone to seekintervention 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 thecompound and opened fire on ‘Ukeke’ while his colleague who had takenrefuge in a toilet in the compound was equally gunned down not even hisplea 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 reportedlygunned down at different locations in the city in a renewedconfraternity war between groups identified as Black Axe and Maphiteconfraternities.

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

Erhauryi, popularly known as ” Ukeke” unarguably was one of the biggest exporters in Edo movies. The duo took the Edo movie industry bya storm in 1990 with a movie entitled ‘Prophet Ukeke’ thus confirming‘Ukeke’ as a talented actor whose acts have culminated into the releaseof over thirty other movies in Benin languages. Having carved a nichein the industry both at home and among Edo’s indigenes in Diaspora,Ukeke, a graduate of the University of Benin, was said to have concludedplans to embark on a six European tour with his latest work before hefell 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 moviepractitioners who came out in their thousands dressed in black attires,marched through major streets of the metropolis and finally terminatedat Government House.

The Edo State Governor, who received the news over the killing of the two movie practitioners, expressed deep sorrow. In a condolence letteraddressed to the the Congress of Edo Movie Practitioners, Oshiomholesaid: “I learnt with deep shock about the tragic death of our foremostmovie and entertainment practitioners. I wish to convey to you and allyour colleagues and the people of Edo State as well my personalcommiseration. Their death is a great blow to the entertainmentindustry; they made such fundamental contributions to the growth of themovie industry in Edo State and brought happiness to thousands of fansat home and abroad. We pray God to grant them eternal rest. We also prayGod to comfort their families, friends and colleagues in this difficultperiod,” 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 artisticand cultural heritage. He said the killing of the artistes has cast adark cloud on the land. “No doubt the artistes community will miss themdearly, so also the entire people of Edo State both home and abroadwhose hearts they daily filled with laughter and humour in their offmoments”.

The effort of the state government to ensure the safety of lives and property of its citizens appeared threatened with the spate of murdercases in the state. Since the renewed cult clash, security in the statehas been beefed up according to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASPPeter 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. Weare also looking at those who were arrested but were charged to court inthe past. We are also going to hold meetings with community leaders andother stakeholders because those committing this crime come from onecommunity or the other”.