Hundreds of residents of Okpanam,
Oshimili North Local Government District, Delta State, fled from the city
following the deteriorating security situation, resulting in the killing of
President and Secretary of the Vigilante Party, Emeka Nwaedozie and Festus
Monye, last Thursday, by alleged Fulani herdsmen.
Oshimili North Local Government District, Delta State, fled from the city
following the deteriorating security situation, resulting in the killing of
President and Secretary of the Vigilante Party, Emeka Nwaedozie and Festus
Monye, last Thursday, by alleged Fulani herdsmen.
The deceased persons and another person
battling for life at a private hospital were reportedly pursuing the
kidnappers, who abducted a woman and her daughter when they were gunned down.
Both mother and daughter were released weekend.
battling for life at a private hospital were reportedly pursuing the
kidnappers, who abducted a woman and her daughter when they were gunned down.
Both mother and daughter were released weekend.
Commissioner of Police, Delta State,
Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, met, last Friday, with the Ugoani (traditional ruler) of
Okpanam, HRM (Dr.) Mbanefo Ogbolu and Obuzor (traditional ruler) of
neighbouring Ibusa, Prof Louis Nwaoboshi, to find solution to kidnapping and
other criminal challenges in the two towns that share boundaries with Asaba,
the state capital.
Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, met, last Friday, with the Ugoani (traditional ruler) of
Okpanam, HRM (Dr.) Mbanefo Ogbolu and Obuzor (traditional ruler) of
neighbouring Ibusa, Prof Louis Nwaoboshi, to find solution to kidnapping and
other criminal challenges in the two towns that share boundaries with Asaba,
the state capital.
Commissioner Inuwa, however, later confirmed to reporters
that he met with the monarchs to discuss insecurity in the two communities. He
complained that both the leaders and citizens in the affected communities were
not providing the police with information on criminals in their midst and
activities to enable his men to track them down.
that he met with the monarchs to discuss insecurity in the two communities. He
complained that both the leaders and citizens in the affected communities were
not providing the police with information on criminals in their midst and
activities to enable his men to track them down.
We gathered that the monarchs poured
their hearts to the state Police boss on the insecurity in their communities
and called for police presence in the affected areas.
their hearts to the state Police boss on the insecurity in their communities
and called for police presence in the affected areas.
HRM Ogbolu, who spoke from his palace
in Okpanam, Saturday, said he had scheduled a mass meeting of Diokpa of all
quarters of the kingdom, red-cap chiefs, clergymen, all Okpanam indigenes,
police, vigilante group, anti-cult volunteer group, and all stakeholders on
Tuesday to place curse on criminals and proponents of destruction in Okpanam
and environs.
in Okpanam, Saturday, said he had scheduled a mass meeting of Diokpa of all
quarters of the kingdom, red-cap chiefs, clergymen, all Okpanam indigenes,
police, vigilante group, anti-cult volunteer group, and all stakeholders on
Tuesday to place curse on criminals and proponents of destruction in Okpanam
and environs.
The letter read in part: “Suffice this
as sufficient notice to you good-selves addressed above that the Ugoani of
Okpanam Kingdom in liaison with Ugoani-in-Council has in fact scheduled a mass
meeting with stakeholders at 6.00 am on Tuesday, May 12 (Olie) at Ishu
Ani-Okpanam by Afor Market ostensibly to place a curse on criminal elements and
proponents of destruction reigning supreme in the kingdom, which backdrop has
resulted to the ambush and dastardly act of killing of the chairman, Okpanam
vigilante group, Mr. Emeka Nwaedozie and one of his lieutenants, Mr. Monye
Festus on 6th of May, 2020.
as sufficient notice to you good-selves addressed above that the Ugoani of
Okpanam Kingdom in liaison with Ugoani-in-Council has in fact scheduled a mass
meeting with stakeholders at 6.00 am on Tuesday, May 12 (Olie) at Ishu
Ani-Okpanam by Afor Market ostensibly to place a curse on criminal elements and
proponents of destruction reigning supreme in the kingdom, which backdrop has
resulted to the ambush and dastardly act of killing of the chairman, Okpanam
vigilante group, Mr. Emeka Nwaedozie and one of his lieutenants, Mr. Monye
Festus on 6th of May, 2020.
There was uneasy calm in the community when Vanguard visited
the town, as residents in affected areas were packing their luggage, including
Fulani residents, who fear retaliatory attacks from angry Ibusa youths.
the town, as residents in affected areas were packing their luggage, including
Fulani residents, who fear retaliatory attacks from angry Ibusa youths.
A legal practitioner, Onwuegbuna
Chiemelu, who led distressed residents to the Ugoni of Okpanam, weekend,
informed the monarch that over 70 families had deserted Nnemiyi Estate,
Okpanam, adding: “We are filled with fear, our legs are shaking and trembling,
we are scattered, people are scared, our quarters is like a graveyard, our
families and children have ran away.”
Chiemelu, who led distressed residents to the Ugoni of Okpanam, weekend,
informed the monarch that over 70 families had deserted Nnemiyi Estate,
Okpanam, adding: “We are filled with fear, our legs are shaking and trembling,
we are scattered, people are scared, our quarters is like a graveyard, our
families and children have ran away.”
He said those carrying out the
kidnapping and dastardly acts, including the killing of the vigilante officials
were Fulani people from the evidence of victims and other eyewitnesses.
kidnapping and dastardly acts, including the killing of the vigilante officials
were Fulani people from the evidence of victims and other eyewitnesses.
He said: “The problem that has now
grown to a monster started some months ago in the Ministry of Justice Estate,
Okpanam, when they kidnapped one person and shot another, but the kidnapped
person was later released.” He disclosed that between 7.00 pm-8.00 pm, they
struck again at the Nnemiyi estate, abducting some persons, but two of the
victims escaped with wounds.
grown to a monster started some months ago in the Ministry of Justice Estate,
Okpanam, when they kidnapped one person and shot another, but the kidnapped
person was later released.” He disclosed that between 7.00 pm-8.00 pm, they
struck again at the Nnemiyi estate, abducting some persons, but two of the
victims escaped with wounds.
Chiemelu told the monarch: “Another one
in Nnemiyi estate was when they came and asked the wife of the owner the house
they invaded to prepare food for them, after she prepared the rice, they took
the man away with the rice.”
in Nnemiyi estate was when they came and asked the wife of the owner the house
they invaded to prepare food for them, after she prepared the rice, they took
the man away with the rice.”
“Not up to three weeks, these same people attacked a
landlord, series of gunshots were fired, it was like a war scene just a few
minutes after 6.00 p,m. The man they attacked his house was inside, but refused
to open the door, but somebody working for him was hit by a stray bullet and
died,” he said.
landlord, series of gunshots were fired, it was like a war scene just a few
minutes after 6.00 p,m. The man they attacked his house was inside, but refused
to open the door, but somebody working for him was hit by a stray bullet and
died,” he said.
On the latest incident that led to the
death of Emeka Nwaedozie, the vigilante chair, he said: “A distress call was
put to him and his group and he rushed to the scene with some of his members,
only to be murdered with one of his members. One escaped and is at the hospital
now receiving treatment.”
death of Emeka Nwaedozie, the vigilante chair, he said: “A distress call was
put to him and his group and he rushed to the scene with some of his members,
only to be murdered with one of his members. One escaped and is at the hospital
now receiving treatment.”
Testimonies from people point to Fulani
herdsmen, the descriptions match Fulani and the killing of Emeka is the epic of
what the residents of Okpanam have been passing through, that is why we are
here.”
herdsmen, the descriptions match Fulani and the killing of Emeka is the epic of
what the residents of Okpanam have been passing through, that is why we are
here.”
His words: “The situation has
overwhelmed us to the point that we are confused. We have come here as your
children, we are bleeding, we are crying, we are saying that Fulani should be
dislodged from the bush where they are residing and any of them who wants to
live in Ibusa should come into the community and rent house like every other
person.”
overwhelmed us to the point that we are confused. We have come here as your
children, we are bleeding, we are crying, we are saying that Fulani should be
dislodged from the bush where they are residing and any of them who wants to
live in Ibusa should come into the community and rent house like every other
person.”
They should not have a camp there
anymore, it is a security threat to us, my wife and children have run away, I
do not sleep well, as I am speaking, I have a heavy headache right now, he
added.
anymore, it is a security threat to us, my wife and children have run away, I
do not sleep well, as I am speaking, I have a heavy headache right now, he
added.
A victim, Joseph Esegbe, said the
people, who kidnapped and tied him with rope at their den were Fulani people.
people, who kidnapped and tied him with rope at their den were Fulani people.
HRM Ogbolu said the police asked the royal fathers for clues
to the perpetrators of kidnappings in their areas, adding, “I have written
several petitions since 2019 drawing the attention of the Commissioner of
Police and Secretary to the State Government of the threats to security in Okpanam.”
to the perpetrators of kidnappings in their areas, adding, “I have written
several petitions since 2019 drawing the attention of the Commissioner of
Police and Secretary to the State Government of the threats to security in Okpanam.”
I told the police that they have done
nothing and that if they took action on my petitions since 2019, the things
happening today will not be happening. The monarch maintained that there was
internal conspiracy in the killing of Emeka, adding that his killers not only
butchered, but spent time there to ensure that he was dead.
nothing and that if they took action on my petitions since 2019, the things
happening today will not be happening. The monarch maintained that there was
internal conspiracy in the killing of Emeka, adding that his killers not only
butchered, but spent time there to ensure that he was dead.
He, however, assured the worried
residents that he had contacted both the Commissioner of Police and Commander
of 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba.
residents that he had contacted both the Commissioner of Police and Commander
of 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba.
According to him, the Army was ready to said 30 soldiers to
the area to provide security permanently if accommodation could be provided
immediately, while the Police were ready to build a police station in the area
if land is made available.
the area to provide security permanently if accommodation could be provided
immediately, while the Police were ready to build a police station in the area
if land is made available.
He confirmed that criminal elements in
the community conspired with outsiders to commit heinous crimes in the area,
saying, “One day, their cups will be full, they will not escape
justice.” The monarch scheduled another meeting with the battered
residents on Sunday to find out whether they could provide immediate
accommodation in their area for a joint letter to the Commander, 63 Brigade,
Nigeria Army Asaba, to deploy soldiers in the area.
the community conspired with outsiders to commit heinous crimes in the area,
saying, “One day, their cups will be full, they will not escape
justice.” The monarch scheduled another meeting with the battered
residents on Sunday to find out whether they could provide immediate
accommodation in their area for a joint letter to the Commander, 63 Brigade,
Nigeria Army Asaba, to deploy soldiers in the area.
