Ewulu Crisis: Uneasy Calm As Gun Bearing Youths Still On The Loose

BY AWELE OGBOGU
As the crisis in Ewulu community, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State over illegal sale of lands by youths entered a second week, the fear of intensifying attacks on the community after allegedly killing one Ezimechine Agenu has become the beginning of wisdom, following the inability of the police to make any arrests so far.
The Pointer was reliably informed during a visit to Ewulu community, that although the police in Nsukwa invited the Obi of Ewulu, HRM Godwin Onyenwuwa and eight others, including the palace secretary, Chief Dennis Odume alias Dege, for questioning over Agenu’s killing in his palace that led to the burning of the Obi’s palace in Ewulu on Monday, September 30, 2024, the royal father did not turn up and has been given till Wednesday to honour the invitation.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach the traditional ruler on his mobile line has so far proved abortive as it remained switched off almost permanently.
According to elder sister to late Agenu, the family was at the Nsukwa police station yesterday to follow up on their complaint over his killing, but the Obi told the police after much effort to get him on the phone, that he was sick and promised to turn up in two day’s time.
She alleged that one Emeka Ikechuckwu Anukwu (Alias Ikanda) shot late Agenu fatally on his left chest during a peace meeting at the Obi’s palace that turned bloody. She said the Obi had called a meeting between two factions of youths of the community, one led by one Alexander Awuta, Ikanda based in Asaba and Sunday Chiadieji alias Smooth based in Ibusa, Thaddeus Nwanji alias JD 2, Darlinton Uwanekwu Obeji and Okocha Azubuike alias Onyeze and on the other side were those mostly residing in Ewulu. The latter had accused Ikanda’s group of selling off the community’s lands by the expressway and allegedly making returns to the palace, leaving them out in the cold.
Saying she was present during the incident, she recounted that during the peace meeting, Smooth came out of the palace to hold ‘side talks’ with some persons, then they returned and started shooting sporadically into the air, hitting one Chukwude Anukwu on his leg and he is currently being hospitalized at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.
“Meanwhile, my brother was asking his colleagues to calm down”, she further recounted, adding that “at this juncture, Ikanda came out of the palace, reached for his car boot and brought out a rifle with which he shot Agenu on his back. He turned round asking Ikanda if he was getting killed over Ewulu land, but he shot him a second time, on his chest which was fatal, leading to his death right on the spot.”
It was gathered that the youths at this point went on rampage, setting the Obi’s palace ablaze but he was rescued by men of Nsukwa police who allowed his exit from the palace along with his wife while they also took away Agenu’s corpse which has been deposited at Isheagu General Hospital mortuary”, she said.
What followed was the burning of houses of youths said to have been working hand in glove with Ikanda, Smooth and Awuta (youth leader) to sell off the community’s land, including the son of the Iyase of Ewulu. In the process, the traditional prime minister of the community said to be in ill-health was whisked away while Awuta was saved from being lynched by the youths.
The Diokpa or eldest man in Ewulu, Pa Ezekiel Aboh told The Pointer that in the absence of the Obi and the Iyase, as the culture demands, he will summon the elders from the four quarters in Ewulu to chart a way forward for the once peaceful community.