NEWSEXTRA Cultists on the run as Army, DSS go after leaders Two kingpins down in Rivers
From Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt
The Department of State Security Service (DSS), Rivers State command and men of the Nigerian Army, through a sophisticated intelligence network, succeeded in tracking down the notorious gang of criminals that had been terrorising and killing residents of Omoku and other communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The notorious bandits, who ran a ring of kidnapping, killings, oil bunkering and arm robbery, led by Johnson Igwedibia, popularly known as Don Wanny, and his immediate younger brother, Oluchi Igwedibia, also known as Obataosu, were a torn on the flesh of residents of the local government. During their operations, scores of residents were killed and their heads severed from their bodies. The criminals became law to themselves as anybody who challenged them paid a supreme price of death.
The amnesty granted them by the Rivers State Government could not make them turn to a new leaf; instead, they intensified their criminal activities. Residents were forced to flee the area, just as several women were made widows and children became orphans.
Don Wanny and members of his gang had fled their domain in Omoku when the law enforcement agents were closing in on them. Shockingly, assorted weapons, dynamites, bags of suspected cannabis, full military camouflage uniforms, military boots, military communication radios, 10 human skulls and bones were discovered when men of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army invaded their home at Aliku.
On the wee hours of January 1, Don Wanny and members of his gang invaded Omoku and killed 22 residents who were coming back from the New Year church service. Shortly after the incident, President Muhammadu Buhari gave a marching order to the security agents to fish out the killers and bring them to book.
The Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, on a visit to commiserate with the families of the victims, offered a N200 million bounty to anybody that could volunteer information on those that carried out the dastardly act. Consequently, men of the DSS swung into action and tracked Don Wanny down in a new apartment he acquired in Enugu, which he used as a hideout.
A combined team of soldiers from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu and personnel of the DSS, Rivers command, raided the hideout to arrest him and his accomplices. The assistant director, public relations, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, disclosed that when Don Wanny and members of his gang discovered that the security agents were closing in on them, they attempted to escape through the exit door of the apartment, but they were shot down.
Shortly after the death of Don Wanny and two members of his gang, Governor Wike declared 32 criminals wanted, saying they were terrorising the state. One of those declared wanted was Don Wanny’s younger brother, Oluchi Igwedibia, alias Obataosu. The governor also offered N200million for anyone who could give information on their whereabouts. Oluchi was trailed to his hideout in the Sabo area of Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State by soldiers from the 195 Battalion, Agenebode, in conjunction with the DSS. The battalion was under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan. Col Iliyasu said Oluchi was killed in a gun duel with security operatives. He said another suspect, a 25- year-old Isikan Osigwe, was arrested while he attempted to escape from the apartment he shared with Obataosu. He said Isikan was cooperating with security agencies with more information about other members of the gang.
Obataosu was said to be the leader of a notorious gang that killed 13 residents of Mgboshimini community in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of October 7, 2017.
Confirming the death of Don Wanny, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State command, Almed Zaki, also said that Obataosu was killed barely a week after he allegedly wrote a threatening letter to Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. He said security forces collaborated to make the operation successful. He warned youths to shun cultism and accept peace, stating that any youth who got involved in crime would be caught up by law despite their location.
Obataosu’s corpse was displayed at the headquarters of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the success of the operation, Zaki said, “This is indeed the fruit of collaboration by security agencies to rid the state of crime and cultism. No evil doer will go free. Every youth should shun crime and embrace peace.
“Oluchi Igwedibia was caught up by law in Auchi, Edo State, where he ran to and was planning to come back and attack his local government before he was killed. He tried to act funny, but the law caught up with him.
“Obataosu, who was amongst the 32 cultists declared wanted by the State Security Council, was killed as a result of accurate DSS intelligence,’’ a security source stated.
The late Obataosu was said to have played a prominent role in the New Year killings by Wanny’s gang in Omoku and its environs.
Commending the DSS and Army for a successful operation, Governor Wike said that none of those declared wanted by the State Security Council would go free.
The governor reassured that the N200 million offered for credible information that would lead to the arrest of the wanted cultists was still in place. He said government would continue to work with security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that Rivers State remained safe.
The chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Osi Olisa, confirmed that the late Obataosu had written to the Council, threatening to carry out unprecedented attacks on schools, churches and other public places. Olisa said this when he led leaders of the local vigilance group, ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), to the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, to confirm the report of Obataosu’s death.
“The Council had received a letter from the boy, that he would attack the local government. In the letter, he said the January 1 attack, where scores were killed, was a mere rehearsal. He threatened to come back for a major attack. He said he would attack churches, schools and even markets. So there was fear. He sent the letter about a week ago. He also sent the message with his picture, showing himself with a gun. He said that he knew he would die, but many people would die before him. Fortunately, he did not come before the security operatives killed him,’’ Olisa said.
The killing of the two notorious criminals has brought joy to the people of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area. Residents of Omoku, in particular, expressed joy that the death of Don Wanny and members of his gang had brought great relief to the community and the entire local government area. Residents said they could move freely and go about their businesses.
A resident of the community who pleaded anonymity said, “We thank God that normalcy is gradually returning to our community. Don Wanny and members of his gang terrorised Omoku and its environs and killed scores of people. They brought economic activities in Omoku to a halt. People didn’t go out freely. Markets and businesses closed before 6pm. Churches no longer held night vigils. It was terribly bad. But we thank God that all are now history.’’