The Delta State Police Command has launched a full-scale manhunt for the Owelle of Onicha-Olona, Chief Jerry Nkeeshe, and members of an armed group accused of killing three youths during a violent attack near ‘B’ Division, Asaba, on 24 November 2025.
According to preliminary findings by the Command, Chief Nkeeshe allegedly led a team made up of vigilantes and suspected cult members—some of them reportedly dressed in Army camouflage—to a parcel of land at Okwe community, along the Asaba–Onitsha road, in an attempt to lay claim to the property.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the group went to the site to enforce an unauthorised quit notice, despite having no court order backing their action. Their invasion was resisted, leading to a confrontation. During the clash, the armed group allegedly opened fire indiscriminately, shooting three young men who later died from their injuries in the hospital.
In reaction to the killings, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams, intelligence personnel, and special investigators to track down and arrest everyone connected to the attack.
The CP described the incident as an “unprovoked, reckless, and brazen act of lawlessness” and vowed that no individual—regardless of status, traditional title, or influence—would be spared from prosecution.
He called on residents of Onicha-Olona, Asaba, and surrounding communities to support the manhunt by providing credible information that could lead to the suspects’ arrest. Abaniwonda assured the public that normalcy had returned to the area and that police teams were maintaining surveillance, intelligence-led patrols, and coordinated search operations to prevent further violence.
“The Delta State Police Command remains steadfast in protecting the lives and property of all residents,” SP Edafe said, urging members of the public to report any sightings or suspicious movements linked to the suspects via the Command’s emergency line: 08036684974.
