Delta Community Seeks Arrest Of Onuwaje’s Suspected Killers

Amidst claims and counterclaims, the people of Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West local government area of Delta State have demanded the arrest and prosecution of the masterminds of the murder of Emiko Onuwaje.

They vowed not to accept the return of a prominent indigene of the community home until the police fished out the culprits for proper prosecution.

The community leaders spoke on Monday during a peaceful protest at Ogidigben in Ugborodo Federated Communities of Warri Federal Constituency.

Clad in all-black, the aggrieved protesters marched through several streets in Ogidigben, singing solemn songs and brandishing leaves.

Addressing newsmen, the vice chairman of Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) and spokesperson of Ogidigben Community Council of Elders, Austin Ajuremisan, said the only way justice would be served was by bringing the culprit to book.

In an interaction with journalists, the secretary of UCMC, Mr Eyengho Samuel Besidone, also demanded justice, noting that routing the suspects would help calm frayed nerves, particularly among the agitated youths in the community.

He said, “The man who was killed (Emiko Onuwaje) has children and family; It is purely a murder case and not from community differences. When the armed men invaded our community, we thought they were bandits, only to see some of our brothers, claiming to fight for the palace.

“We are calling on the federal government and security agencies to do the needful. The dead are crying for justice, and justice must be served,” he said.

in his account, the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, Eghare Daniel Uwawah, said the incident happened when some Ugborodo indigenes, including the late Onuwaje, were on their way to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Ogidigben for a peaceful protest.

They were allegedly attacked, leading to Onuwaje’s death.

A prominent Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayirimi Emami, who was in grief, said, “My pipeline surveillance company had written several petitions against the prime suspect, who does illegal bunkering activities. Whenever you tell him to retrace his footsteps, they will say you are fighting the palace, as if the palace is aiding criminality. Does the palace send people to protest or partake in criminal activities?

“The President of Nigeria is against illegal possession of firearms. Once they find out it’s not Ayiri, nobody wants to act. One of the boys caught has made confessional statements in view of the murder of Emiko Onuwaje,” he said.