Gunmen Kill Two Ubulu-Okiti Farmers Amidst Land Controversy With Ogwashi-Uku Monarch

By Braxton Ilobah

It is not the best of times for the Ubulu-Okiti community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State as two young men from the town were on Thursday shot dead by yet to be identified killers.

The deceased identified as Messrs Uwandi Okeleke and Augustine Isichei were said to have been attacked by the gunmen about 6pm on the way from their farms located between Ubulu-Okiti and Aniagbala-Ubulu-Uku.

As at the time of going to the press, it has not been clearly established who the attackers were. However, while some of the indigenes spoken to, by our correspondent in the area said the killers were suspected to be agents of the Ogwashi-Uku Monarch, Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo who has reportedly engaged the Ubulu-Okiti and Aniagbala-Ubulu-Uku communities in land dispute, others believed the gunmen were Fulani herdsmen.

Those who pointed accusing fingers at Obi Okonjo, anchored their argument on the various reported stories of the presence of gunmen allegedly hired from Aguleri in Anambra State by the Monarch to help him ward off anybody who walks into the controversial land.

The Aguleri gunmen have reportedly confessed in more than two occasions to those who encountered them in the Ubulu-Okiti and Aniagbala-Ubulu-Uku lands that they were agents of Obi Okonjo.

late last year, Delta State Government had ordered everyone including the Monarch and his agents to keep away from all controversial lands until government issues white paper on the Commission of Enquiry set up on the controversial lands.

However, it was gathered that the King has disobeyed the order and continued to use his agents to terrorize the people of Ubulu-Okiti and Aniagbala-Ubulu-Uku.

When contacted on the killing incident, the spokesman of Delta State Police Command, Superintendent of Police,

Bright Edafe confirmed the gruesome killings of two men from Ubulu-Okiti but explained that he was yet to get the actual names and other identities of the deceased as at the time he was contacted about 7pm on Friday.