EBENEZER ADYROKIYA, Warri
The Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State has petitioned the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), demanding a thorough investigation into the brutal killing and alleged mutilation of one of its members, late Emiko Onuwaje.
The call was made late Saturday at a press conference held at riverine Ugborodo by the leadership of the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC).
The briefing was convened by the chairman of the committee, Mr Emmanuel Onuwaje, and the press statement was read on his behalf by the UCMC secretary, Mr Besidone Eyengho.
Addressing journalists and members of the public, the community leadership described the killing of Emiko Onuwaje as brutal, gruesome and deeply troubling, insisting that the incident poses serious questions about public safety and the integrity of security institutions.
They alleged that the deceased was attacked and murdered by armed thugs and hoodlums allegedly sponsored by a prominent individual said to be a chief linked to the Palace alongside other accomplices.
The UCMC said the attack did not only result in the death of Onuwaje but also threw the community into fear, as residents were forced to flee into nearby bushes to escape further violence.
According to the committee, it took the intervention of officers of the Nigerian Navy, who responded swiftly to distress calls, to rescue residents and flush out the assailants from the area.
The community further alleged that some government security personnel were implicated in the incident, including police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers who reportedly claimed to be attached to the Palace.
The UCMC described the allegations as disturbing, saying they strike at the heart of state authority and public trust if proven to be true.
Following the incident, the community said it formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, adding that the IGP reportedly directed the AIG, Zone 5, to investigate the matter.
However, the committee expressed concern over what it described as slow progress and insufficient action, despite arrests reportedly made at the scene and the recovery of weapons, physical evidence and forensic materials.
According to the UCMC, some suspects were allegedly apprehended while in possession of arms and ammunition, with proved that the attackers were caught while mutilating the body of the deceased.
Despite these developments, the community said several key suspects and their alleged sponsors were yet to be questioned or brought to justice.
The leadership of Ugborodo also raised alarm over what it described as attempts to undermine justice by misrepresenting the killing as a lesser offence rather than a deliberate act of murder.
It warned that such actions could embolden criminal elements and further endanger the community.
Members of the committee said they have continued to receive threats since the killing, with alleged perpetrators boasting that the matter had been settled and that nothing would happen to them.
The community described these threats as credible and dangerous, noting that they create fear and undermine confidence in the justice system.
While stressing that Ugborodo remains a peaceful community committed to lawful processes, the committee warned that continued delay in securing justice could heighten tension and frustration among residents, particularly grieving families who have lost loved ones.
The community also condemned what it described as the illegal deployment and use of security personnel, recalling the IGP’s earlier directive withdrawing police officers attached to VIPs.
They alleged that, contrary to this directive, some officers were hired from distant duty posts and deployed to intimidate and harm civilians in Ugborodo.
In their appeal, the UCMC called on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those allegedly involved, including their sponsors.
They also urged the Department of State Services, the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Defence Staff to treat the matter as a national security issue, while appealing to the Attorney-General of the Federation to safeguard judicial integrity and ensure diligent prosecution.
The committee further requested protection for witnesses and community members facing threats.
“We recall the public announcement by the Inspector-General of Police withdrawing police personnel attached to VIPs.
Yet, in Ugborodo, police officers were illegally hired miles and kilometres away from their duty post, deployed, allegedly to intimidate, maim, and kill innocent citizens.
“This is unacceptable and must be investigated thoroughly. Accordingly, the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) formally calls on:
“The Inspector-General of Police to ensure the immediate arrest, investigation, and prosecution of all identified accomplices.
“The DSS, NSA, and Chief of Defence Staff to treat this matter as a national security concern involving organized crime, illegal arms, and sabotage of state authority.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure diligent prosecution and protection of judicial integrity.
“Immediate investigation into the alleged involvement of compromised security personnel and their command structures.
“Protection for witnesses and community members facing threats and intimidation.
“We make this appeal not out of malice, but out of duty, pain, and faith in the Nigerian state.
Justice for Emiko Onuwaje is justice for Ugborodo, and justice for Ugborodo is justice for Nigeria.
“We urge the authorities to act decisively and transparently to avert a recurrence of such heinous crimes anc restore confidence in the rule of law. May justice prevail,” the statement read in part.
They concluded by stating that their appeal was driven by duty and faith in the Nigerian state, stressing that justice for Emiko Onuwaje would restore confidence in the rule of law and help prevent further violence.
Speaking separately on the matter, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ayiri Emami, also appealed to the Federal Government and the Commissioner of Police to ensure that all those involved in the killing are brought to justice.
He said efforts were made to report the case at Madangho Police Station, but alleged that the suspects refused to honour invitations for questioning, even after the matter was taken over by Zone 5 of the police.
Chief Emami warned that failure to act decisively could push people towards taking the law into their own hands, a situation he said must be avoided.
“I will not support any Itsekiri killing another Itsekiri,” he said, adding that all those involved in gun running and violence, regardless of status, must be held accountable.
