by Adeola Balogun

 

The arrest of notorious kidnap and robbery kingpin Kelvin Prosper Oniarah (aka Ibruvwe) resulted in a clash on Wednesday between the Joint Task Force (JTF) and loyalists of Oniarah which has left at least 13 people dead in Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The kingpin, who was apprehended while in an undisclosed hotel in Port Harcourt by the Department of State Security (DSS) in conjunction with the JTF, was responsible for the kidnap of notable victims like Chief Mike Ozekhome and a former Anambra Deputy Governor, Dr. Chudi Nwike, who was killed in captivity.

According to reports, troops deployed in Kokori to secure the town shortly after his arrest on Wednesday came under intense gunfire, leading to a shootout that lasted for over three hours before the youths were overpowered.

Oniarah’s close associate identified as Charles and a voodoo priest, Michael Omonigho, who is believed to be the gang’s spiritual head, were arrested.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who addressed reporters yesterday in Warri, confirmed the arrest, saying one person died in the clash. The Nation learnt that the governor relied on information provided by security operatives and a body retrieved from the scene.

Our independent investigation revealed that the death toll was higher than one. The body recovered from Kokori on Wednesday night has been taken to Effurun Barracks headquarters of the Sector 1 Command of the JTF.

A reliable security source involved in the operation, told our reporter: “The armed youths killed were at least 13; some of the bodies were dragged from the scene and taken to an unknown location by their colleagues.”

Our source, who craved anonymity, added that at least 25 youths of the town escaped with gunshot wounds.

It was gathered that two of the troops’ Hilux vans used for Wednesday’s operation were damaged by the hoodlums, who attempted to set them on fire by shooting the fuel tanks repeatedly.

“Luckily for us, the tank was made of plastic. They were able to destroy the tyres and we had to move the vehicle out of the town with flat tyres before fixing it,” a JTF source, who was part of the team, told our reporter.

Our reporter counted at least four bullet holes on a van marked DT-Jul-019.

At least 15 vehicles of various brands were smashed and burnt in the town; although it could not be ascertained if the destruction was carried out by the soldiers or the rampaging youths.