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HUNDREDS
of residents of Okpanam community, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta
State, have escaped from the community, following the worsening insecurity,
which culminated in the killing of the chairman and Secretary of the town’s
Vigilante Group, Emeka Nwaedozie and Festus Monye, last Thursday, by suspected
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. 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. Vanguard was at
the office of Commissioner Inuwa when the royal fathers met him, but was not
privy to their discussions. Commissioner Inuwa, however, later confirmed to our
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 track them down. It was 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. HRM Ogbolu,
who spoke to Vanguard at his palace in Okpanam, Saturday, said he had scheduled
a mass meeting of Diokpa of all quarters of the kingdom, red-cap chiefs, clergy
men, all Okpanam indigenes, police, vigilante group, anti-cult volunteer group
and all stakeholders tomorrow (Tuesday) to place curse on criminals and
proponents of destruction in Okpanam and environs. 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. 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. “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.
He said those carrying out the kidnapping and dastardly acts, including the killing
of the vigilante officials were Fulani people from the evidences 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 noted that 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.” “Not up to three weeks, these same people attacked a landlord,
series of gun shots were fired, it was like a war scene just 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 stray bullet and died,” he said.
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.” “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.” 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.” “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.” 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.” “They should
not have a camp there anymore, it is a security threat to us , my wife and
children have ran away, I do not sleep well, as I am speaking, I have 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. 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.
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. He confirmed that criminal elements in the community were conniving
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 embattled residents yesterday (Sunday) to know if 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
Source: Vanguard
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