The tranquil community of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State has been shaken by fear following two disturbing incidents. Gunmen fatally shot a member of the Ubulu-Uku Vigilance group, and a 76-year-old woman, Theresa Okocha, was discovered dead in her home at Agbonta Quarters within the same town.
As the news unfolded, members of the vigilance group and local hunters launched efforts to comb the surrounding bushes in search of the assailants, reflecting the heightened tension within the community.
A local resident known as Ikechukwu shared, “Today, Monday, October 9, a member of Ubulu-Uku Vigilance group, Sule, from Isho Quarters, had resumed his duty on the Ubulu-Uku-Isele-Uku road. Unbeknownst to him, gunmen had laid an ambush. As he was changing into his official uniform, an assailant shot him in the head, and he tragically succumbed to his injuries before help could arrive. This senseless act enraged his colleagues and local hunters, prompting them to launch a search for the criminals.”
The resident continued, “Ubulu-Uku is facing a severe security crisis. Just last week, a man was abducted near the same location where Sule was shot. Two weeks prior, another resident was kidnapped. Our community is undergoing an extremely challenging period.”
Regarding the murder of Theresa Okocha, she resided alone in her compound. Still, she was discovered unconscious in her room with visible injuries on her body and face. She was unable to provide an account of what transpired.
A relative of Okocha, speaking anonymously, expressed their concerns, stating, “Aunty Theresa, as she is fondly called, had not been seen outside her house for about two days. Concerned neighbors decided to check on her and found her unconscious on the floor, covered in bruises, indicating that she had been assaulted. She was immediately rushed to the hospital, but regrettably, she passed away a few days later without being able to share her ordeal.”
The motive behind Okocha’s killing remains perplexing. Her tragic death has cast a dark cloud of fear over the once peaceful community of Ubulu-Uku. Residents are bewildered by the sudden surge in criminal activities, including the recent fatal shooting of a young promising footballer in a popular restaurant by suspected cultists and frequent reports of burglaries.
Urgent pleas have been directed at the Obi in Council and the Ubulu-Uku Development Union to address the escalating menace of criminals in the community, using traditional methods to deter wrongdoers. Furthermore, Aniocha-South LGA Chairman, Pastor Jude Chukwuwike, is urged to empower local vigilante groups to carry out their duties diligently and bring the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice.
A police officer at Ubulu-Uku Police post stated that the incidents had not been officially reported but assured that an investigation would be initiated. Meanwhile, community leader Mr. Tony Osedebe has sent an urgent appeal to Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wale Abass, urging swift and decisive action to address the deteriorating security situation in Ubulu-Uku.