BY GODWIN NZEMEKA
THE Delta State Police Command has activated a full-scale manhunt for Chief Jerry Nkeeshe, the Owelle of Onicha-Olona and the suspected armed group allegedly responsible for the deadly attack that claimed the lives of three innocent youths on November 24 near ‘B’ Division, Asaba.
A press statement by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, stated that preliminary investigation revealed that the chief allegedly led a group of vigilantes and suspected cult members, some brazenly disguised in Army camouflage, to a parcel of land at Okwe community along the Asaba–Onitsha road in a deliberate attempt to lay claim to the property. He noted that the group proceeded to enforce an unauthorised quit notice, without a court order.
Edafe explained that their illegal operation encountered resistance, resulting in a violent confrontation. He said the armed group allegedly opened fire indiscriminately, causing severe gunshot injuries to three youths, who were later confirmed dead while receiving treatment at the hospital.
According to him, in response to the criminal attack, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, immediately ordered the deployment of tactical teams, intelligence operatives, and specialised investigators to track, identify, and arrest all individuals involved. The CP, he said, condemned the act as an unprovoked, reckless, and brazen display of lawlessness that will not be tolerated under any guise.
CP Abaniwonda called on residents of Onicha-Olona, Asaba, and neighbouring communities to support the ongoing manhunt, emphasizing that the command will not relent until every perpetrator of the violence, irrespective of title, influence, or backing, is apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law, the statement noted.
The CP further reassured the public that normalcy has been restored in the area, adding that sustained surveillance, intelligence-led patrols, and coordinated search operations are in progress to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.
