By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
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 comprehensive investigation into the brutal killing and alleged mutilation of one of its members, the late Emiko Onuwaje.
The demand was made on Saturday during a press conference held in the riverine community by the leadership of the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC).
The briefing was convened by the chairman of the committee, Mr Emmanuel Onuwaje, while the press statement was read on his behalf by the UCMC secretary, Mr Besidone Eyengho.
Addressing journalists, the community leadership described the killing as brutal, gruesome and deeply disturbing, warning that the incident raises serious concerns about public safety and the credibility of security institutions.
According to the UCMC, Emiko Onuwaje was allegedly attacked and murdered by armed thugs and hoodlums said to have been sponsored by a prominent individual, reportedly a chief linked to the Palace, alongside other accomplices.
The committee said the attack not only claimed the life of Onuwaje but also plunged the community into panic, forcing residents to flee into surrounding bushes in fear of further violence.
They disclosed that it took the swift intervention of the Nigerian Navy, following distress calls, to rescue residents and dislodge the attackers from the area.
The community further alleged the involvement of some government security personnel in the incident, including police officers and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who were reportedly attached to the Palace.
Describing the allegations as alarming, the UCMC said they strike at the very heart of state authority and public trust, if proven to be true.
Following the incident, the committee said it formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), noting that the IGP subsequently directed the AIG, Zone 5, to investigate the matter.
However, the community expressed concern over what it described as slow progress and inadequate action, despite reported arrests at the scene and the recovery of weapons, physical evidence and forensic materials.
The UCMC alleged that some suspects were apprehended with arms and ammunition, adding that there was evidence suggesting the assailants were caught in the act of mutilating the deceased’s body.
Despite this, the committee lamented that several key suspects and their alleged sponsors were yet to be interrogated or prosecuted.
The leadership of Ugborodo also raised the alarm over what it described as attempts to downplay the incident by portraying it as a lesser offence rather than a deliberate act of murder, warning that such misrepresentation could embolden criminal elements and further endanger the community.
Members of the committee disclosed that they have continued to receive threats since the killing, with alleged perpetrators boasting that the matter had been “settled” and that they would face no consequences.
They described the threats as credible and dangerous, noting that they instil fear and erode confidence in the justice system.
While reiterating that Ugborodo is a peaceful community committed to lawful and constitutional processes, the committee warned that continued delay in securing justice could heighten tension and frustration among residents, particularly bereaved families.
The community also condemned what it described as the illegal deployment and use of security personnel, recalling an earlier directive by the Inspector-General of Police withdrawing officers attached to VIPs.
According to the UCMC, contrary to this directive, some police officers were allegedly hired from distant duty posts and deployed to intimidate, maim and harm innocent residents of Ugborodo.
In its appeal, the committee called on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of all those allegedly involved in the killing, including their sponsors.
It also urged the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Chief of Defence Staff to treat the incident 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 demanded protection for witnesses and community members facing threats and intimidation.
“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 from locations far from their duty posts and deployed, allegedly to intimidate, maim and kill innocent citizens,” the statement said.
“This is unacceptable and must be thoroughly investigated. Justice for Emiko Onuwaje is justice for Ugborodo, and justice for Ugborodo is justice for Nigeria.”
The committee stressed that its appeal was driven not by malice but by duty, grief and faith in the Nigerian state, urging authorities to act decisively and transparently to prevent a recurrence of such violence and restore confidence in the rule of law.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ayiri Emami, also called on the Federal Government and the Commissioner of Police to ensure that all those involved in the killing are brought to justice.
Chief Emami alleged that attempts to report the matter at Madangho Police Station were frustrated, claiming that suspects refused to honour police invitations even after the case was taken over by Zone 5.
He warned that failure to act decisively could push aggrieved persons towards self-help, a situation he said must be avoided.
“I will not support any Itsekiri killing another Itsekiri,” he said, insisting that all those involved in gun running and violence, regardless of their status, must be held accountable.
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