Land dispute: Vigilante member killed, others injured as gunmen invade Delta community

The land dispute between the Ogwashi Uku community in Aniocha south council area and its neighbour, Ibusa in Aniocha north of Delta State took a tragic turn when gunmen killed a member of Aboh-Ogwashi vigilante group.

It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the Ogwa (meeting hall) of the Okwabani of Aboh-Ogwashi in three vehicles on Monday morning, March 14, and shot sporadically. 

The victim identified as Mr Chukwuwike Alawo was allegedly shot at a close range while several others including the leader of the vigilante group and the taskforce on land recovery, Mr Nnamdi Nwaebonnor, were seriously injured

According to Nigerian Tribune, the vigilante vehicle, a Toyota Sienna recently donated by the Isagba of Ogwashi Uku kingdom, Chief Jude Ozah was vandalized.

It was gathered that trouble started when members of the Aboh vigilante group accosted some people buldozing a parcel of land behind Admiralty University of Nigeria along Asaba-Ibusa-Ogwashi Uku road. 

The workers were said to have abandoned their equipment and a pump action gun which were recovered by the vigilante members.

As the Aboh vigilante group were coming out from the bush they were attacked close to the Ogwa of the Okwaubani.

 
Reacting to the attack, the Okwaubani of Aboh-Ogwashi, Chief Jude Obidi, said that he told his vigilante to take the recovered exhibits to the police station.

It was on the way to the station that the hoodlums who had apparently reinforced, stormed the town to carry out the dastard attack.

He said one of the vigilante members called him from a hideout during the invasion to report the death of Nwike.

Obidi described the incident as a direct and unprovoked attack on his people.

“While they were moving to the police station with exhibits, the hoodlums had reinforced and came into the town for the attack. About three vehicles came in shooting sporadically. So the vigilante people took off, and that was how to shot Chukwuwinke Alao, a very loyal member of the vigilante. The invasion happened near my Ogwa right at the heart of the town. This is a direct and an unprovoked attack on us. That is exactly what happened.”  he said.

On what could have be responsible for the attack, Obidi who said the police were already investigating did not rule out contention for land by various interests. 

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the attack on the “Ogwa” and the killing of the vigilante member, saying that investigation into the matter had commenced.