Tension and outrage have engulfed Onicha Olona, a quiet agrarian community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, following a deadly attack that left one man dead and another critically wounded. The villagers allege the mayhem was orchestrated by a notorious land grabber, Chief Jerry Chukwuma Nkeweshe—popularly called “Babies”—with the backing of armed police officers.
Eyewitnesses and residents, speaking to SaharaReporters under condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal, recounted a harrowing tale of violence, abduction, and cover-ups, which they say stem from a festering land dispute that authorities have continually failed to resolve.
The latest violence erupted on Monday morning when Okwusindi Paulo, a local resident, was abducted in Asaba while taking his ailing 83-year-old uncle, Pastor Ignatius Ofulue Gwadia, for a routine medical check-up.
According to reports, Paulo noticed a suspicious vehicle trailing them and warned his uncle. Moments later, at Interbau Roundabout, their vehicle was boxed in. Hoodlums allegedly linked to Chief Babies smashed the windows with an axe and dragged Paulo out, beating him mercilessly before abducting him. Pastor Gwadia, injured by shattered glass, was rushed to a nearby hospital by good Samaritans.
For hours, Paulo’s whereabouts were unknown until residents traced him to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) facility in Asaba—sparking fears of a police-backed operation against the community.
Later that same day, at around 5 p.m., terror returned to Onicha Olona. Eyewitnesses say Chief Babies stormed the village alongside thugs in five Sienna vehicles and two police vans. What followed was an orgy of violence as gunshots rang out across the community.
“The invasion was coordinated. Everyone fled. In the chaos, one of the thugs—Kingsley Ogugua Osodi—was fatally shot and fell into a gutter. Another young man, Kanayo Okafor, was hit in the stomach. His intestines spilled out. He’s now fighting for his life in an Asaba hospital,” a villager said.
Residents believe the invasion was a retaliatory move following the earlier abduction incident—and a continuation of Chief Babies’ attempts to subdue resistance to his controversial land dealings.
According to the villagers, this is not the first time Chief Babies has unleashed violence. They recounted the unresolved murder of the town crier, Mr. Meikowute Anwuzia, nearly eight months ago. Anwuzia was allegedly beaten into a coma by thugs loyal to Babies after announcing a planned visit by Zone 5 police officers to investigate the land dispute. He died three days later, and his body still lies in the mortuary.
“Babies even seized the town crier’s gong and took it to Zone 5 Headquarters in Benin to bolster his claim that the crier had no authority to make the announcement,” a resident explained. “Yet, despite eyewitness reports and petitions, no arrest has been made. Police continue to cover up his crimes.”
Another community stakeholder lamented, “We submitted petitions, but instead of justice, we were arrested, forced to withdraw our complaints, and made to apologise. The police are emboldening him. This will destroy our community if nothing is done.”
When SaharaReporters contacted the Delta State Police Command, the spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, claimed ignorance of the matter and promised to investigate.
Zone 5 Police Headquarters, meanwhile, insisted the case before them was one of cyberbullying, already charged to the Federal High Court in Asaba. Inspector Arishew Johnson, responding through DSP Tijani Momoh, added that the incident had escalated into arson, with “suspects” burning seven buildings, including a church.
“Chief Jerry [Babies] is the complainant. His houses were also burned in retaliation. The entire story you’ve heard is full of fabricated lies,” he alleged.
But the alleged victim, Okwusindi Paulo, flatly rejected that account: “I was never arrested. I was abducted. They smashed into my vehicle after chasing me and my uncle for several minutes. The CCTV footage in Asaba has all the proof. The CP has it.”
As the community mourns the dead and prays for the wounded, Onicha Olona residents are calling for urgent intervention from the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Delta State Government.
“We are under siege,” said one elder. “Our voices are being silenced by violence and injustice. If the authorities refuse to act, there will be more bloodshed. We are calling for peace—but justice must come first.”
For now, the fate of Onicha Olona hangs in the balance, as its people wait—fearfully—for justice that seems ever out of reach.
PIONEER NEWS 