Three Delta youths killed as police hunt chief, suspects

The Delta State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the killing of three youths in Asaba, the Delta State capital, declaring a full-scale manhunt for Owelle of Onicha-Olona, Chief Jerry Nkeeshe and all members of the armed group responsible for the deadly attack that claimed the lives of three innocent youths.

The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the killings in a statement in Asaba.

The victims were said to have been shot dead on Monday, while others were injured when some armed hoodlums invaded a land located on Kilometre 1 Asaba-Benin Expressway, in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Metro gathered that the bloody incident followed a land dispute between the original owners and a suspected gang of land grabbers.
The incident also led to the destruction of some property by the armed thugs, who were said to have invaded the compound in about 15 vehicles and dressed in security uniforms.

One of the victims of the attack and the Caretaker of the area, Dalha Mohammad, who spoke at the hospital on Monday, said some tenants were already occupying the property in the disputed land, whose owner was said to have inherited it from his father.

He said, “This (Monday) morning, some armed thugs dressed in security operatives’ uniform stormed a land at Km 1, Asaba-Benin Expressway and opened fire on occupants of the place. About four people were gunned down, while about five were injured and rushed to the hospital.
“As I speak now, some other injured victims are at the St. Rebecca Hospital, Asaba, where they are receiving treatment and bullets are being extracted from their bodies.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of Hausa Community, Abraka Quarters, and also one of the tenants in the compound, Awalu Dalhatu, said, “The armed thugs, suspected to be land grabbers, came in about 15 vehicles, parked nearby and opened fire on occupants of the property, resulting in the instant death of four persons and five people sustained gunshot wounds.

The armed thugs claimed they were sent by a political bigwig to come and eject us, and we told them that our landlord, Mr Kingsley Ijebuonwu, has a court judgment on the land, which we presented to them, but they refused to listen to us and started shooting.

We have reported the matter at the ‘B’ Police Division, Asaba and met the Divisional Police Officer and presented the copy of the court judgment to him, and he pledged to send a police team to protect us. As I speak now, bullets are being extracted from those injured victims at the St Rebecca Hospital, where they were rushed to.”

However, in a swift reaction when contacted, the landlord of the disputed land, Mr Kingsley Ijebuonwu, traced the history to when his father, Christopher Ijebuonwu, acquired it and had one Chief Uwadiboa from Iselleukwu as a tenant.
Ijebuonwu said, “Later, Uwadibia started claiming ownership of the property, and in the process, he died, and his wife and son brought in one person who went and brought a forged Certificate of Occupancy that bears a fictitious name and used his passport to impose on the passport.

“We had earlier complained to the Commissioner of Police and had judgments on two occasions in our favour on the land.”
However, the police said they had activated a full-scale manhunt for the Owelle of Onicha-Olona and all members of the armed group responsible for the deadly attack.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the said chief allegedly led a group of vigilantes and suspected cult members, some brazenly disguised in Army camouflage, to a parcel of land at the Okwe community along the Asaba–Onitsha Road in a deliberate attempt to lay claim to the property.

“The group proceeded to enforce an unauthorised quit notice, without a court order. Their illegal operation encountered resistance, resulting in a violent confrontation. The armed group allegedly opened fire indiscriminately, causing severe gunshot injuries to three youths, who were later confirmed dead while receiving treatment at the hospital.

“In response to the criminal attack, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, immediately ordered the deployment of tactical teams, intelligence operatives, and specialised investigators to track, identify, and arrest all individuals involved.

The CP condemned the act as an unprovoked, reckless, and brazen display of lawlessness that will not be tolerated under any guise and calls on residents of Onicha-Olona, Asaba, and neighbouring communities to support the ongoing manhunt,” Edafe said.

He emphasised that the command would not relent until every perpetrator of the violence, irrespective of title, influence, or backing, is apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law.