IGP Urged To Caution Officers Over Plot To Invade Community

A prominent leader at Ase-Omuku community in Ndokwa East Local Government of Delta State, Chief Okwudili Obi, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to caution officers of the state command over an alleged plot to invade the community and arrest some indigenes on “trumped up charges”.

A statement yesterday in Warri by Obi said in 2010, a crisis broke out in the community as a result of the operations of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), causing a rift between Ogbue family, led by Chief Obi and Onyeonwu family, both of Umusumei Orie kindred.

The statement appealed to Police Commissioner Ari Mohammed Ali to prevent his men from further invasion of the community and illegal arrest of people, “as this may degenerate into a communal crisis.”

Onyeonwu families started when Francis Obi (younger brother to Chief Okwudili Obi), on November 19, 2013 was brutally murdered in front of policemen, who came with the deceased to investigate a case of arson by groups suspected to be Onyeonwu family members.”

The community leader, who was a signatory to the peace treaty, said the crisis was eventually resolved by the Delta State Government.

He condemned his earlier arrest and detention, as a result of which he (Obi) “is currently down with stroke.”

The statement added:  “We are calling on the Inspector General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police to caution their officers and men not to interfere in the affairs of Ase-Omuku community.”