Metro

‘We’d Always Been Victims’ – Gbelemotin Indigenes Clear The Air On Clash With Cocoa Farmer

Published

6 months ago

March 2, 2025

The people of the agrarian community of Gbelemotin in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, have absolved themselves of blame in the recent killings in the area.

Recall that a clash between some migrant cocoa farmers and Izon boys accused of stealing farm produce in the area claimed lives and properties worth millions were burnt.

Also recall that the Edo State Command had, while confirming the clash, said that five people lost their lives in the clash that also led to the burning of houses and other property .

The Command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, assured that the Command was on the trail of the perpetrators and would bring all of them to book.

A statement issued by Gbelemotin community on Sunday, and signed by Karaem Evimibowei,
claimed that the indigenes of the community had always been victims of the migrant Yoruba cocoa farmers, who, they said had many years ago encroached their land to plant cocoa.

In the statement made available to journalists in Benin on Sunday the community added that the migrant cocoa farmers, as a way of settlement, agreed to pay a token to the Gbelemotin community for planting their cash crops.

The community alleged that over time, the Yoruba migrant cocoa farmers formed the habit of attacking their youths through a vigilante group they set up.

The statement stressed that the harassment of the Gbelemotin indigenes continued because the farmers appeared to have the backing of some powerful people in the government.

The statement, which chronicled how they had been harassed over the years, stated that over time, the Yoruba farmers began expanding beyond the original areas they were allowed to plant, thereby encroaching on the free uncultivated lands reserved for Ijaw communities

Tension grew in the community when the Yoruba farmers started accusing the Ijaw farmers of stealing their cocoa, an allegation the community denied.

“They went further to prevent indigenes of Gbelemotin from passing through the roads and footpaths leading to other Ijaw communities”, the statement added

It stated that many of the indigenes were labelled as thieves, beaten up and injured, just as women were not also spared in those attacks.

The community also alleged that the migrant farmers formed a vigilante group headed by one Igbala, which they had been using to enforce their plans against the indigenes.

The statement reads: “The situation took a deadly turn last year when a young Ijaw man, a married man and father of children, was murdered by the vigilante group while returning from a funeral in Jide Village.

“When an eyewitness of that incident accompanied a delegation from one of the communities went to the police to report the killing and seek justice, he was unjustly arrested on false charges, further confirming that the authorities were not on our side.”

Ebimobobowei claimed that not long after that, an Urhobo youth who climbed to harvest wild palm trees was shot dead by a vigilante and the matter was allegedly swept under the carpet by the police.

The statement said that what caused the latest killings was that Ijaw youths went to rescue their people when they heard they were attacked and in the process, they were ambushed agan by the cocoa farmers and their vigilante

“When news of the attack reached the village, the youth were outraged; they mobilised to search for their missing brothers, hoping to rescue some that may have survived the onslaught.

“While searching the bushes, they were ambushed again by the vigilante group. However, they managed to fight back and successfully rescued two seriously wounded victims who had been left for dead.

“At the end we lost four of our youth, two of whose bodies were taken away by the murderous and escaping vigilantes led by an Ikale man named Igbala who happened to be the Head of the Vigilantes. Several other youth of Gbelemotin returned with gunshot injuries.

“It is necessary to point out that this same Igbala is fond of using his powers as a vigilante to harass both women and youth as they move daily on the earth’s roads”.

Ebimobobowei said the narrative being spread by the cocoa farmers portraying the Gbelemotin indigenes as the aggressors was not true and urged the government and security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation, insisting that as Ijaw, they “have the right to live peacefully and work in their homeland.”

Metro

Police Arrest Ex-Soldier, Four Others Over Armed Robbery, Kidnapping In Anambra

Published

15 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of five suspected members of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate, including a confessed deserter of the Nigerian Army, in Awka, the state capital.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the operation was carried out on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Awkuzu.

Ikenga said the operation was carried out after the Command received intelligence on the abduction of a farmer at Isiagu, Awka.

The victim was reportedly released after an undisclosed amount of ransom was paid.

The police spokesperson said that, acting on credible intelligence, police operatives stormed the gang’s hideout at Notoko, Awka, leading to the arrest of the confessed deserter soldier and four other suspects.

Ikenga identified the suspects as 38-year-old Dominic Oraz, a confessed deserter of the Nigerian Army; 30-year-old Michael Nwobodo; 29-year-old Eze Friday; 23-year-old Uche Okolo, and 29-year-old Chinedu Gilbert.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include six automatic pump-action guns, 63 rounds of live cartridges, one microscope, five machetes, one military cap, two police teargas canisters, handcuffs, a robber’s rocket launcher, criminal charms, three Motorola walkie-talkies, one jack knife, one power bank and cash sum of N26,000,” Ikenga stated.

He said that during interrogation, Oraz admitted abandoning the military in November 2024.

Ikenga noted that investigations are ongoing, particularly regarding the deserter soldier, in collaboration with military authorities, to guide further police action and prosecution of all suspects.

He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the operatives for the operation and urged residents of the state to remain vigilant and to continue to report suspicious activities to the Police for prompt action.

The commissioner also assured Ndi Anambra of the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating violent crimes.

Metro

Police Arrest Ex-Soldier, Four Others Over Armed Robbery, Kidnapping In Anambra

Published

16 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Ikenga said the operation was carried out after the Command received intelligence on the abduction of a farmer at Isiagu, Awka.

The victim was reportedly released after an undisclosed amount of ransom was paid.

He said that during interrogation, Oraz admitted abandoning the military in November 2024.

Ikenga noted that investigations are ongoing, particularly regarding the deserter soldier, in collaboration with military authorities, to guide further police action and prosecution of all suspects.

The commissioner also assured Ndi Anambra of the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating violent crimes.

Metro

Enugu Vigilantes Beat Young Man To Death Over Alleged Stealing Of Woman’s Clothes

Published

16 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Members of the Neighbourhood Watch in Amagu Iwollo Oghe community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, have allegedly beaten a young man, Mr. Nosike Madueke, popularly known as Wojuwo, to death over a false theft allegation.

Community sources told SaharaReporters that the vigilante group was led by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the community, Mr. Chukwuebuka Hillary Ngwueche, also known as Osuofia.

According to one of the sources, the incident occurred on Monday, August 25, 2025, when the local security men attacked Madueke with “dangerous weapons” after he was accused of stealing a box of clothes belonging to Mrs. Nneka Nwankwo.

The source explained that Nwankwo had earlier hired Madueke and his co-workers to repair or dig her septic tank and soakaway, but later raised an alarm claiming her box of clothes had gone missing.

“Instead of handing Madueke over to the appropriate authority, especially the police, they decided to jointly and severally take the laws into their respective hands by arresting Madueke, dragging him to his house for a search, bringing out his clothes, and burning all the clothes,” the source said.

“They tied Madueke on both his hands and legs and started profusely, taking turns by using offensive weapons such as guns, machetes, and irons, to beat him up till he died.”

“This happened in public at Iwollo Oghe Square. How can a trained CSO and his men kill a whole human being on a mere allegation by a woman of stealing her cloth, which was later found,” the source said.

“The young boy was from Imeziolo, Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State.”

According to another source, this marks the third time residents of Iwollo Oghe, either directly or through its purported security outfits, have been linked to the killing of people from the deceased’s community.

“Sometime in 1987, they shot Hyacinth Adinde with a gun and asked the people of Madueke community to do their worst.

“Also, years later, they killed Engr. Christopher Aniagbaoso, and yet they asked the people of the community to do their worst.

“The people of Iwollo Oghe are in the habit of killing the people of Imeziolo on mere suspicious grounds,” the source alleged.

“We call on the Enugu State command to do justice to this case as information reaching us revealed that the men are on the run after killing the young boy,” the source added.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed the deceased being beaten with sticks by men believed to be members of the Neighbourhood Watch, who were seen parading him along a community road.

Moments later in the footage, his lifeless body appeared on the ground, surrounded by residents, some of whom lamented, “See how they killed somebody’s only son for nothing.”

According to a source, the case has since been reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Enugu State Police Command.

However, repeated attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain the reaction of the Police Command were unsuccessful.

Calls to the mobile phone of the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, went unanswered, and a WhatsApp message sent to him also received no response as of the time of filing this report.