Criminal Invasion Of Isho, Ubulu-Uku Farmland: Two Indigenes Shot, Police Arrest Four Suspects

By Frank Oshanugor

The last may not have been heard on attempts to unlawfully take over communal farmlands belonging to people of Isho Quarters at Ubulu-Uku, in: Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State as suspected criminal invaders from outside the town on Tuesday, shot two indigenes of the community.

Four of the suspects however, have reportedly been arrested by operatives of the Delta Police Command and are currently being detained. Their names were given as Christopher Okafor, father of Daniel Okafor the suspected mastermind of the crime, Lucky and Christian, both children of the suspected ring leader, Samuel Soja Enugu who is currently at large, and Anwuli Alizor all of whom are from Akwumazi in Ika Local Government of Delta State.

Apart from those arrested and currently being detained by the police, four others now at large; Kuti Onichabor, Happy Emelue, Ogor Udu and Alex Ekene were among the major actors armed with guns and other dangerous weapons during the attack.

Reliable sources in the community told ATLANTICNEWSONLINE that the invaders suspected to have come with sponsored cultists reportedly armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, had stormed the massive farmlands located in areas belonging to Isho Quarters. The areas in question cover Aniuje, Anioma, Abugba, all of which are within the Isho communal land territory.

The suspects reportedly attacked about 150 men of Isho quarters who had gone as a group on a routine communal labour in their farms. As they arrived the scene, the suspects started shooting randomly and in the process; two Isho men were hit by bullets, but for the quick intervention of their colleagues who promptly rushed them to hospital, they would probably have given up. As at the time of this report, they were reportedly receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

It was gathered that similar attack was carried out sometime in September, 2025 by the suspects (who are now in police custody) in collaboration with over 50 armed thugs now at large. In a petition dated 29th September, 2025 some representatives of Isho community namely Diokpa Samuel Ugbechie, Samuel Maduaka, Christopher Abunwa, Chukwuka Adagbon and Ifechukwude Charles through their lawyer, Henry Tobechukwu Ogidi had petitioned the Police Area Commander at Ogwashi-Uku intimating him of how the suspects and their hired thugs on 26th and 27th September, 2025 attacked the Isho people and their tenants on their farmlands with guns, axes and cutlasses.

The petition (a copy of which was sighted by ATLANTICNEWSONLINE) stated that in the course of the attack, the invaders destroyed economic trees and farm crops and violently robbed the Isho farmers. The suspects were alleged to have subsequently abducted Messrs Chukwuka Adagbon and Ifechukwude Charles and taken them to a shrine called Udene-Owa Shrine located in a territory outside Ubulu-Uku, where they were compelled under threat of death to swear not to disclose the attack to anyone.

The lawyer in his petition to the Area Commander had pointed out the grievous offences allegedly committed by the suspects even as he cited many legal provisions to support his argument. In view of the seriousness of the offences, he urged the police to commence investigation into the matter with a view to arresting the suspects and prosecuting them accordingly.

As if the September attack was not enough, the suspects re-launched a second phase on Tuesday during which two Isho men were shot. Ostensibly, in an effort to forestall a reprisal attack from the Ubulu-Uku community, the Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dan Akpan moved in swiftly and launched a manhunt for the suspects. His operatives were able to arrest four of the suspects who are now currently being detained.

According to a source who is well acquainted with the historical details of the farmlands, Isho quarters naturally has a very large expanse of lands part of which has to do with the portion in question. To open it up in other to deepen economic activities as well as repel criminals from taking refuge there, Isho community graciously gave farmers from Ute-Okpu and other bordering neighbours from Ika and Ndokwa areas, parts of the land to cultivate their farms.

These Ute-Okpu farmers and others, according to sources, have been farming there with the permission and cooperation of Isho leaders and farmers without having any issues. Regrettably, families of the suspects and their hired allies arrived from Akwumazi and Otolokpo at some point and began to impose levies on the Ute-Okpu farmers, who naturally are farmland tenants to Isho people.

It was gathered that when the leaders of Isho quarters got wind of the illegal levies being collected by these Akwumazi invaders, a message was sent across to them, to come forward for discussion, but rather than choose the path of peace, they resorted to criminal invasion and violently attack Isho people and their customary tenants given the land to cultivate.

More so, they were reportedly collecting tolls from the customary tenants and those who refused to cooperate with the suspects were attacked while their phones and other valuables like motor-cycles and cash crops from the farms were equally destroyed.

Efforts made to reach Delta Police spokesman, Bright Edafe on Wednesday evening to throw some light on the incident failed as he could not be reached on his official line.