…destroys patrol vehicle, others
Residents of Fear God Community, popularly known as Bonsaac have raised the alarm, alerting the Delta state government of alleged plots to eliminate the Bonsaac Vigilante Commandant Mr. Israel Nwebo, by some Arewa Boys in Oshimili south local government area of the State.
The residents now live in perpetual fear as the suspects allegedly go about boasting that until they cut off the head of the vigilante Commandant, they won’t quit.
They accused the police of not living up to expectation in the matter, as some of the suspects were released after they had been taken to the Magistrate Court II, Okwe and subsequently sent to prison.
It was learnt that the Bonsaac vigilante, working on intelligence, accosted some Arewa boys who were moving at the Power Line Area of Bonsaac around 3:00am with motorcycles on the 4th of January 2024.
It was gathered that on sighting the vigilante operatives, they escaped, leaving one of them, who was arrested with his motorbike and was ordered to produce the fleeing gang members.
It was learnt that the Arewa boys mobilized in group, and invaded the residence of the Bonsaac vigilante commander, Mr. Nwebo, on 5th January,while he was going to work and ordered him to produce the seized motorcycle.
The commander sensing danger quickly notified the Bonsaac vigilante chairman, Mr.Francis Isioma Okolo.
It was learnt that the chairman immediately called for re-enforcement through the General Commandant, Mr. Tony Olisa.
According to findings, Olisa, equally notified ‘B’ Divisional Police station, and the state police headquarters.
Before the arrival of the various security personnel, the Arewa boys had succeeded in gaining access into the apartment of the commandant.
It was reliably gathered that the Arewa boys packed all his belongings, including that of his wife, little baby and his personal motorcycle and allegedly set them ablaze as the Vigilante Commander escaped by the whisker.
It was gathered that the timely arrival of Mr. Friday Osas, the S.O, ‘B’ Division and his team of police officers saved the entire building from being set ablaze.
Findings revealed that the enforcement vehicle belonging to Achalla Ibusa vigilante, lead by Mr. Tony Olisa was allegedly damaged with dangerous weapons used by the suspects.
It was learnt that the Arewa boys confronted the General Commandant, Mr. Olisa, to produce the Bonsaac Commander, in order for peace to reign.
They threatened that until the head of the commandant was chop off, the state capital won’t know peace, claiming ownership of Asaba, the State capital.
Residents of the community have fingered Mr. Muktar Usman, whom they accused of always being at the forefront to solicit for their bail from police custody whenever they are arrested.
A resident who simply gave his name as Mr. Chijiokem expressed sadness that a matter of this magnitude could be treated with kid gloves by the state police command.
He wept that insecurity in the state if not checked could degenerate into Benue and Plateau states experiences.
He queried the rational behind the release of the suspects taken to Magistrate Court II, Okwe, if not compromised by the prosecuting police officer, not minding the jeopardy, the commandant whom he said now sleeps with one eye opened, sequel to the threat by the Arewa boys that peace could only reign when his head was allegedly cut off.
Speaking on the matter, the Bonsaac Vigilante Chairman, Mr. Okolo, said: “his bike which he bought at the rate of N850, 000 was taken from his house and was burnt at Hausa market in Power Line.
“And his some of his properties were taken away while others were set ablaze at the front of his house. They carted away with about five bikes. Four bikes belonging to his brothers and his friend were taken away but they set his own ablaze at that Power Line market.
“Even the General Commandant’s vehicle, a shuttle bus was vandalized. The painful part of it, is that, they were even charged to court without our notification. From what I learnt, they were divided into two. Some were taken to Okwe Magistrate Court II, and they struck out the matter on grounds that they caught them when they were on a raid and they didn’t put any charge against them.
“While some will be taken to the High Court, according to one of the police officer. But my annoyance is that even my Commandant as we speak, does not have where to put his head because he cannot sleep in that place.
“And his bike that was set ablaze, we use it to patrol and they kept us in the dark, we are not happy”, he said.
Asked whether Mr. Usman Muktar played any role, he said: “he was the person that went for the bail of those boys. Even there was an incident that happened before, he was the one that came to the General Commandant’s office.
“And there was a time they wanted to set up a militia group in disguise of vigilante. The ‘B” Division DPO stopped it and asked them to go through the General Commandant for them to be registered”, stressing that the matter of the militia group, is presently silent as the General Commandant is the one authorized to speak on it.
While commending the police who arrived the scene of the crime with about four to five Hilux Vans and two Sienna vehicles for the prompt response on the fateful day, he noted that residents are currently vulnerable, “because for now, we are not protected.
“I myself, my hand was broken, they injured me in my right arm and I later found out that my vein shifted. As I am speaking now, the place is swollen. My Commandant’s brother was stabbed on the leg”, calling on the government to assist them particularly the Bonsaac Vigilante Commandant who has nowhere to lay his head.
He noted that it would have been disastrous if the family of the Commandant were at home when his house was invaded.
Corroborating Okolo’s position, the General Commandant, Mr. Friday Olisa, who narrated his side of the story said: “on the 4th of January 2024, around 3:00am, our boys in Bonsaac on duty post received a call that there are some suspected people moving around on bike based on the security problem that we are having, we are always at alert.
“The boys beefed up and went to the area. They saw three motorcycles coming, they didn’t wait for the motorcycles to come near them, they pointed touch at them and two of them escaped and they grabbed one of the motorcycles and the rider but they discovered that the person is someone they know.
“They allowed him to go but they seized the motorcycle in order for him to come to pick it the next day morning. The next day morning, the Bonsaac Commandant around 9:30am was going to work around the House market because his house is around the area.
“The Hausa guys blocked him and over 60 of them have already gathered him and when they called me for back up, at the time they got there the crowd was much. They were with all different types of weapons, cutlasses, daggers and shovels and my boys were trying to bring the situation down, before they know it, our shuttle bus, they scattered it all, broke the glasses and they managed to escaped.
“They reported to the ‘B’ Division. Even the Isioma, they wounded his hand, up till now, the young man is not using it well. The Bonsaac Commandant and one other of my boys, they broke his head too and so many injuries were inflicted on them as most of them managed to escape.
“They called me, so when I drove to the place, when I saw the crowd, it was overwhelming. Some of them were rushing towards me with dagger, saying I should make sure I provide the Bonsaac commander. I pleaded with them to calm down.
“I then called the control room, the DPO ‘B’ Division and Area Command before I left the scene because I cannot withstand them so as not to take laws into my hands, I managed to escape to a safe place and waited until the patrol team came with the S O ‘B’ Division with almond nine vehicles.
“When we arrived, most of them ran into the bush. So, the ones we could lay our hands with their bikes were taken to the headquarters. We went to the headquarters for interview and the CP asked us which we explained. He also asked the Arewa boys and they explained.
“The case was directed to O/C anti-kidnapping department, which is the place they made their statements before we left, thinking they will call us so we can go for the matter particularly the things they destroyed. I don’t have money to buy them right now particularly the boy whose things were burnt, he has nowhere to stay.
“Thank God, the day the incidence happened, his wife and child were not around, they went for the Christmas celebration and they have not returned. Let us assume that the woman and child were in the house, what would have happened?
He disclosed that the damaged vehicle was parked at ‘B’ Division, but he made frantic efforts to retrieve the shuttle bus as it was impossible for them to leave the area unguaded, saying, “We cannot leave the area just like that if we keep quiet, these guys will overrun us”.
He expressed shock that after they were charged to court and sent to Ogwashi-Uku prison with the aid of same damaged bus, the same boys are now walking freely in the town.
“They have returned back. What happened? We cannot even lay our hands on anything. We find out from the Magistrate Court that there is no charged pressed against the boys. The IPO told me that one lawyer will call me for those at the High Court, as I talk to you, no one has called”, he lamented.
Speaking on Muktar, he said he later discovered was at the police to bail his brothers despite calls from the Sariki to settle the mater, “all I want is peace and the repairs of the things destroyed.
He bemoaned the nefarious activities of the Arewa community in Asaba, recalling that one of his female officers was equally attacked and wounded in the eyes by same boys, a situation he has spent his fortunes yet no one has come to the aid of the female officer.
“They carried someone on bike and on arrival, the passengers didn’t have the complete fair money to pay, but wanted to collect from someone to complete the money, the Arewa boys refused and started fighting, they almost killed the passengers. I was called, and my boys went there for rescue and brought the guy to my office.
“They mobilized and traced him to my office and they damaged my office, I have complained, this is not the first, second neither third, it has been happening to the extend of them wanting to form a vigilante group but I fought against it.
“They went to ‘B’ Division to register it and when I put calls across to the DPO, he then called the S.O and it was stopped and it was Muktar, that led them to register that vigilante group at ‘B’ Division”.
He insisted that it was impossible for a stranger to come to another man’s land to form a vigilante group.
Contacted, Mr. Usman Muktar, said he should be left out of the matter, stressing that they could say anything they like.
Hear him: “leave me with that wahala. Whatever they say I don’t care, I beg, let them go and say it. Forget that issue. I cannot be intimidated by anybody, forget that issue”, he repeated.
On a second thought, he called and said: “if you have any information, call me and we can talk. I have never been to that area, I don’t know what is happening but if there is anything elsewhere, you come and we can discuss but for this issue, I don’t even want to partake in it because it is already before the security agent.
When the medium pressed further that we just wanted to get his reaction, he said: “the incident happened, some.persons have been arrested, some have been released and some have been taken to Court and one is in the hospital”.
He denied forming any militia group, saying “I am more Deltan than a northerner. So, whatever I need is peace and I have been preaching it for 18 years. There is never a time somebody will indict me. I take you as a friend otherwise I will take it up, you understand me. I cannot pretend, what I know, I know, and if I don’t know, I don’t know”, he said.
However, he later sent a text which reads: “Please I don’t know what you are saying, called me for another things, not for this allegation”.
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Edafe Bright, said: “during investigation the, nine of them confessed to the act (the burning and the rest). When you raid, you must arrest some innocent people. Others that investigation could not tie them were charged to Magistrate Court.
“The CP insisted that they must be charged and that they should not release any body. So, those ones that were charged to Magistrate Court, were released on bail.
“The other nine who actively participated were charged to High Court and are currently in prison as we speak”, the police image maker, disclosed.
At press time, the plasma television set, Refrigerator, cooking gas, four motorcycles left under his care by his siblings who travelled for the yuletide celebration and other valuables carted away are yet to be recovered.
