Delta State is grappling with a severe and persistent security crisis fueled by violent land disputes, which have resulted in the loss of approximately ten lives over the past six months. Investigations reveal a troubling pattern of armed invasions, alleged cult involvement, and widespread impunity across several local government areas.
A Trail of Blood Across Communities
The violence has scarred multiple communities. On May 19, 2025, a brutal clash in Ishiekpe Quarters, Onicha Olona, within the Aniocha North Local Council, led to the alleged murders of community members Kingsley Ogwugwa and the town crier, Meikowvute Anwuzia. In a petition to the Police Service Commission dated May 21, human rights lawyer Arthur Okafor (SAN) accused Jerry Nkeweshe (aka Babies) and others of orchestrating a reign of terror to seize land.
The petition detailed how Nkeweshe and armed thugs, arriving in four Sienna vehicles, invaded the area, firing sporadically to intimidate residents and establish control. The petitioners linked the group to a series of crimes including kidnappings, attempted murder, and vandalism.
Ethnic Tensions and Boundary Clashes
In Okwe, Oshimili South Local Council, the conflict took an ethnic dimension. Three Hausa men—Muhammed Multala, Kabiru Abdullahi, and Yahaya, all in their early twenties—were allegedly killed by armed land grabbers. The attack left 15 others injured. The Chairman of Abraka Hausa Quarters, Auwalu Dalhatu, demanded N3 billion in compensation, accusing the assailants of a coordinated effort to push Hausa residents out of the area.
Meanwhile, a long-standing boundary dispute between Edjekota (Ogor Kingdom) and Otor-Ewu in Ughelli North and South again turned violent. Armed youths from both sides clashed, resulting in three reported deaths—two from Edjekota and one from Otor-Ewu—and numerous injuries.
Denials and Official Warnings
Amid the allegations, Jerry Nkeweshe, the Owelle of Onicha-Olona, has denied any involvement in killings. Through his lawyer, Kelechi Nnadi, he labeled the accusations as "false, defamatory, and malicious," urging police to look elsewhere for the perpetrators.
However, the Delta State Police Command has confirmed the severity of the situation. Police Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe stated that land disputes now rank as one of the state's most serious security challenges, alongside kidnapping and armed robbery. He expressed frustration that residents often resort to armed self-help instead of legal avenues.
Regarding the Okwe violence, Edafe directly implicated Nkeweshe and confirmed four deaths, escalating the incident from a mere dispute to a suspected murder case. "Shots were fired, and four people were killed," he stated.
Edafe issued a stark warning, linking the persistent violence to deeper societal ills. "You foresee an end only when we choose to become better people," he declared. "But as long as some Nigerians want to forcefully claim land that does not belong to them, there is little anyone can do." He identified greed, corruption, and the culture of forcibly taking land without due process as the core drivers of the deadly cycle.
