Tension and uneasy calm at present pervades IlIushi community in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State following an alleged plan by the state government to impose one Fidelis Okowele, an alleged non-indigene as the Onogie (king) of the agrarian community.

The alleged plan to install the non-indigene as the Onogie of the small community has led to protests by the indigenes of Illushi.

Singing solidarity songs, the protesters, who were armed with placards and banners, stormed the Secretariat Complex of Esan South East Local Government Area and the Office of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), both in Ubiaja, demanding immediate halt to the alleged government’s plan to install Mr. Okowele as the traditional ruler of the agrarian community, just as they insisted that he is not a bonafide indigene.

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The protesters called on both the Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Commissioner of Police to decisively intervene to forestall any possible breach of the tradition, custom, law and order, as well as peaceful coexistence of the people of Illushi.

The protesters’ spokesman, Mr. William Ajonota fumed, charging that Mr. Okowele is not a native of Illushi but from Onogolo and hence, cannot become the Onogie.

He said: “Illushi Community vehemently oppose and reject the plan to install a non-native as Onogie on the good people of Illushi.

“We urge the government to urgently take a second look at its plan and set the machinery of justice in motion against any plan to impose Fidelis Okowele as the Onogie of Illushi.”

In the protest letter, which was jointly signed, by Elder Okolo Abamu, Elder Pius Oifoghe and Augustine Igwe, the youth leader, they reiterated their resolve as a community not to surrender to the “unacceptable plan to install a non-native as the Onogie of Illushi”, an action which they dolefully predicted will result in crisis.

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The Vice Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Area, Mrs. Susan Otekpen, who received the letter of protest on behalf of the Chairman of the council, Hon. Lius Imhandegbelo advised the aggrieved protesters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner in order to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Mrs. Susan Otekpen assured that the matter will be channelled to the appropriate government quarters for an amicable resolution of the dispute.

Persistent efforts to speak with Mr. Okowele proved futile as his mobile phone was serially engaged.

A man identified simply as Azeez has been confirmed dead after reportedly jumping into Lagos lagoon while being chased by a mob for allegedly stealing bags of cement.

The Director in charge of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said he arrived at the scene of the incident to see the lifeless body of the deceased who drowned.

His corpse has now been evacuated and deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary in Yaba.

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A statement released by the police read:
“SITUATION REPORT

SUICIDE/DROWNING

ON 26/04/2024 AT ABOUT 1220HRS THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF LASEMA OPERATION IN LAGOS CENTRAL REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 1045HRS OF DATE, HE RECEIVED A CALL THAT THERE WAS AN INCIDENT AT LEKKI/IKOYI LINK BRIDGE. ON GETTING THERE HE MET A LARGE CROWD GATHERED BY THE WATER SIDE, WATCHING THE LIFELESS BODY OF A MAN WHO HAD DROWNED, WHO WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS AZEEZ ‘M’. HE WAS LATER CONFIRMED DEAD BY PARAMEDICS OF PRE HOSPITAL CARE LAGOS. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE ELIJAH AMOS ‘M’ WAS PURSUING THE DECEASED BEFORE THE DECEASED JUMPED INTO LAGOON, BECAUSE HE WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE STOLEN SOME BAGS OF CEMENTS. THE SCENE WAS VISITED WHILE THE CORPSE HAS BEEN EVACUATED AND DEPOSITED AT MAINLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL MORTUARY YABA, FOR AUTOPSY AND PRESERVATION. INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.”

The goals of Correctional centres, otherwise known as Prison , are to strike a balance between punishment, rehabilitation and public safety while preparing inmates for a productive life after release.

However, in Nigeria , these goals have suffered severe set back as most inmates rather than being transformed into a better version of themselves, return back to the society hardened than they were before going to jail.

This was the case of a suspected leader of a kidnap gang arrested by the Rivers State Police Command under the watch of CP Olatunji Disu.

The suspect, Gift Ogbo (39), who is receiving treatment in the hospital, from injuries sustained during a botched kidnap operation , disclosed that he formed his gang while serving his 11 years jail term for a murder case.

Ogbo, who said he had never been to a classroom since birth, recalled how he roamed his village in Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, during school hours, searching for opportunities to pilfer.

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Due to his alleged villainous disposition, he was nick named ‘Akwa Ndele’, with parts of his body designed with bold scars .

Arrest

Vanguard gathered that on March 29, 2024, Ogbo, led three members of his gang on a kidnap mission, in their operational tricycle, on Nkpolu road.

They reportedly intercepted a white Mercedes-Benz ML 350 4matic , parked on the road, with two occupants in the driver and passenger seats.

But in an act of bravery, driver of the Mercedes who attempted to reverse and escape, hit a wall.

He reportedly drove menacingly towards two suspected members of the gang that stood in front of the car ,and ran over them.

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The two suspects were

Ogbo and another member identified simply as Oyi-Baba, who were the gang’s muscle men. They were abandoned at the scene by their fleeing colleagues.

A mob was said to have descended on them and was at the verge of setting them ablaze when a Rapid Response Team that was contacted arrived the scene.

While Oyi-Baba reportedly died in the hospital, Ogbo , is still undergoing treatment, according to Police sources.

Prison gang

From the hospital bed, Ogbo, said, “ In 2012, I attacked one of my uncles during an argument over a parcel of land and he died in the process.

“I was arrested and charged for murder. While serving my 11 years hail term, I made friends with some inmates.

“Upon my release in December 2023, I returned to Ndele and rallied two old friends, Gift Kpanuku, aka Oyi-Baba and one Sunny, aka Onye-meme.

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”We teamed up with two released members of the gang I formed in prison: Isaac and Ugo and immediately devised a plan to start a kidnap-for-ransom gang.

“We stole from residents of Ndele to raise money for arms. We raised 370,000 and used it to purchase two locally made shot guns in Akwa-Ibom from Smart, a gunrunner I also met in prison.

Operations

“We went on the first mission on March 13, 2024, at about 8.45 p.m. We snatched a red Mazda 323 from a local taxi driver to use as operational vehicle. On that same evening, we met a man and his wife who parked their car in front of a doctor’s office at Nkpolu. We ordered them out of their Volkswagen Touareg, pushed them into the back seat of the car and drove off with them, abandoning the stolen Mazda.

“But on the way to our hideout, there was traffic .While contemplating an alternative route, the woman jumped out of the car. In anger, I shot her husband in both thighs, and we sped off.

“We took him to a compound in Eleme, took his gold chain, gold wristwatch , his phone and wife’s phone which she left . We used his ATM card to withdraw N530, 000, via.”
VANGUARD