Tensions have erupted in Onicha Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, following a violent incident that left one person dead and one other hospitalised after thugs led by an alleged land grabber and police officers allegedly invaded the community on Monday.
Residents of the community who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity for security reasons recounted their ugly ordeal, particularly people of Ishekpe Quarters.
They accused the police of collaborating with the alleged land grabber identified as Chief Jerry Chukwuma Nkeweshe, popularly known as “Babies,” and covering up his series of violent acts, including abduction, assault, and murder.
According to multiple eyewitnesses who narrated the incident to SaharaReporters, the attack is linked to an ongoing land dispute involving Nkeweshe [Babies], who is accused of forcefully attempting to sell communal land against the will of the residents.
The turmoil resurfaced on Monday morning when one of the residents of the community, identified as Okwusindi Paulo, was attacked and abducted in Asaba while driving his 83-year-old uncle, Pastor Ignatius Ofulue Gwadia, to the hospital for his routine medical check-up.
While on their way, Paul reportedly noticed a suspicious vehicle trailing them and alerted Gwadia, who was already uneasy about Paul’s driving due to his health.
At Interbau Roundabout, their vehicle was intercepted by the suspected assailants, and Paul was dragged out and beaten.
A source told SaharaReporters, “According to Mr. Gwadia, what he saw were thugs that came down and started banging on the vehicle.
“That was when it dawned on him that Paul was actually right when he said what he noticed about some strange movements before.”
“They started using an axe to hit the glass where Paul was seated and the glass was shattered and they dragged Paul out of the car and started beating him,” the source quoted Gwadia as saying.
Gwadia was injured by shattered glass and was taken to the hospital by passersby.
Paul was taken away by the attackers but residents said they visited four police stations before locating him in police custody at the RRS facility in Asaba.
That same day, around 5 p.m., the village was attacked by “some thugs led by Jerry Chukwuma Nkeweshe, alias Babies, a known land-grabber, stormed the village in about five Sienna vehicles and two police vans, shooting sporadically,” a resident said.
“Everybody started running and in the course of the shooting, the bullet hit one of the thugs, Kingsley Ogugua Osodi and he fell into the gutter and died.”
Another, Kanayo Okafor, was critically wounded.
“The bullet hit him in his stomach and his intestines were out,” a resident said, adding he was eventually referred to a hospital in Asaba where he is currently responding to treatment.
Villagers suspected Babies’ involvement in Paul’s abduction.
“A lady named Oby, the old man’s niece, said she saw her uncle’s car at a mechanic’s and heard Babies say he would repair the damages. That’s when she realized he was involved,” a source explained.
A resident confirmed the violence stemmed from a land dispute, saying that Babies tried to sell community land but was resisted, and anyone opposing him became his enemy.
This isn’t the first violent incident linked to the conflict as residents recalled the death of a town crier Mr. Meikowute Anwuzia, who Babies and his men allegedly beat after announcing a visit by Zone 5 police.
A resident said, “Before now, because of this land tussle, the community’s town crier, Meikowute Anwuzia, was also killed.
“The man is still in the mortuary after almost eight months. The matter was reported to the police, but nothing has been concluded.
“The same Babies went to the town crier’s house and beat him up for making an announcement.
“Babies had gone to Zone 5 Police Headquarters with a petition. After we submitted a counter petition, Zone 5 said they were coming to verify.
“Our people asked the town crier to inform everyone not to go to the farm but attend the meeting, as Zone 5 officers were coming to interview us.
“After the announcement, Babies and his thugs stormed the crier’s house, beat him to a stupor, and asked who authorized the message. Babies took his gong to Zone 5. We rushed the man to hospital, but he died three days later.
“Since then, the case was reported to the police, but they are trying to cover it up.”
Residents alleged that multiple police reports and petitions have been ignored.
Asked if Zone 5 is aware that Babies attacked the town crier, a resident said, “He took the gong there himself. They can’t deny knowing. He used it to claim the crier had no authority but denied touching him.”
Asked about the Onicha Olona Police Division’s awareness, the resident said, “Of course. The former DPO knew but was transferred a month ago. He tried to do the right thing. We don’t know what the current DPO is doing.”
When asked if Babies had ever been arrested, he said, “No, never,” despite petitions and eyewitness accounts.
A community stakeholder added, “Police inaction is fueling unrest. Once, after submitting a petition, we were the ones arrested. The police asked why we reported it, made us withdraw our petition and apologise.
“I told them their actions will set this community ablaze because they refuse to stand by the truth. Peace depends on how they handle this.”
Despite Onicha Olona’s proximity to Asaba, residents said the Delta State Police Command has taken no meaningful action.
When asked if the State Command is aware, the community stakeholder replied, “Yes, we have sent several petitions. But each time we report Babies, the police cover it up.
“We have even been arrested and detained for two days, as they turned the case against us.”
However, when SaharaReporters contacted the Delta State Police Command for comments, the Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, denied knowledge of the matter and told SaharaReporters, “I will find out.”
Also, SaharaReporters contacted Zone 5 Headquarters for comments considering its alleged involvement, including currently being in possession of the late town crier’s gong.
However, the IPO in charge of the matter, Inspector Arishew Johnson, who responded to SaharaReporters’ inquiries through Zone 5 Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tijani Momoh, said, “The case reported to police at Zone 5 was a case of cyberbullying and the case has been charged to Federal High Court Asaba since January this year.”
He said, “The very day we went there to charge them to court, the suspect people went to the town, burnt down seven buildings including one church.
“Chief Jerry was the complainant. The suspect’s family burnt down three of Jerry’s houses in his compound.
“The fact in this write-up is full of fabrication lies. What happened was quite different from what they stated.
“The case of arson is still pending. The case of arson is still under Investigation. Zone 5 is investigating while Force CID is also investigating. Force CID has arrested the ringleader of the arson on Monday.”
However, when confronted with the response of Zone 5, Mr. Okwusindi Paulo, who is the person that was attacked, abducted and taken to the RRS facility in Asaba on Monday but now released, denied the allegations by Zone 5 Police.
He said, “I was never arrested, instead I was abducted because he [referring to his attackers who were linked to Babies [Chief Jerry] bashed and double-crossed me into my car after several minutes of chasing me and my daddy while driving at top speed.
“The CCTV camera in Asaba has all that on CP’s table.”
As tension simmers and outrage grows, the community calls on higher authorities, including the Inspector General of Police and the Delta State Government, to intervene and bring peace and justice to the Onicha Olona community.