THE authorities of 6 Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt has announced the killing of Prince Johnson Igwedibia alias, Don Waney, notorious kidnapper and alleged mastermind of the January 1st, 2018 massacre of 23 persons at Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State.
The outgoing General Officer Commanding, GOC 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Enobong Udoh while briefing newsmen on the death of the hoodlums yesterday, said that the latest efforts leading to the death of Waney and two members of his gang followed a Presidental Directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that the perpetrators of the Omoku killings must be hunted down.
He added that the directive was conveyed in a mandate by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai to the 6 Division to collaborate with the DSS, the Police and all the other security agencies in Rivers State to hunt down and bring to book the perpetrators of that mayhem. “This is simply what happened”, the outgoing GOC stated.
Parading the bodies of the notorious criminals at the headquarters of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, the GOC said “we collaborated with other security agencies and we trailed Don Waney and some of his gang members to Enugu. They were initially hiding somewhere in Imo State; we later traced them down to Enugu, where he rented an apartment, lived with other people in the neighbourhood like normal people and from there, they were already planning another mayhem in Omoku.”
He added; “So, we moved from there, we collaborated with the General Officer commanding 82 Division, Enugu and we were able to raid his hideout in Enugu. In the process, Don Waney was running away and our troops shot at them and these are the criminals as you can see. This is exactly how we were able to achieve this feat.”
“I want to mention the fact that Don Waney, the leader of the criminal and murderous gang was the mastermind of that 1st January massacre in Omoku. But that operation was physically led by Ikechukwu, his No.2, who is physically here right now. There is another person who I don’t want to mention that also led that operation. We will not rest until we bring all of them to book.”
On his part, the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Zaki who was part of the briefing said that the security agencies in Rivers State were working hand in hand and “you can see the outcome of synergy. The perpetrators have been gunned down after an exchange of gunfire. Security agencies are working round the clock to ensure that people live in peace and go about their lawful business without molestation. I can assure you. We will not rest till we get all the criminals arrested and brought to book.”
The CP said; “I want everybody to understand that crime does not pay. You can see a typical example today that the long arm of the law would always catch up with criminals like these. They think they are above the law, but you can see what has happened to them now.
“We are going everywhere and we are taking the battle to their hideouts and we will get them arrested.
“We have the profile of these criminals and I can assure you that we are taking the battle to their hideout. We know where most of them are hiding. We will arrest and prosecute them”.
The army had earlier in a release signed by Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 6 Division, Port Harcourt said that Waney after committing several atrocities in Omoku relocated to a neighbourhood within Enugu Town in Enugu State where he rented an apartment and started living among unsuspecting neighbours within the community.
Iliyasu stated “recall that in the early hours of Monday 20th November 2017, troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army acting on credible information from some patriotic members of the public raided the evil Don Waney enclave in Omoku, ONELGA Rivers State where shocking discoveries of assorted weapons, dynamites, bags of suspected cannabis, full military camouflage uniforms, military boots, military communication radios, 10 human skulls and human bones were discovered.
“Additionally, in continuation of the operation on Tuesday 21st November 2017, the troops also exhumed decomposing bodies of some of his victims in his shrine in the glaring eyes of the media who were invited to witness first hand”.
He said Don Waney was already perfecting plans to unleash another mayhem in Omoku in which he was to attack churches, schools, Army and Police locations and the residences of the generality of the already traumatized people of Omoku when they met their waterloo.
Explaining how Don Waney was killed, Iliyasu stated; “However, following his successful relocation to his new Enugu neighbourhood hideout a combined team of troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu and personnel of DSS Rivers State Command raided the hideout to arrest him and his other accomplices.
“Incidentally on sensing that the combine team were closing in on his residence, Don Waney, his Second- in- Command (Ikechukwu Adiele) and another gang member (Lucky Ode) attempted to escape through the back exit of the apartment and were shot down by the eagle-eyed troops in the process. One of them died on the spot while the other 2 who sustained gun shot wounds eventually died while being evacuated for medical attention.”
He added that the remains of Don Waney and his cohorts were brought back to Port Harcourt Rivers State by the combine team and handed over to the Rivers State Police Command for further action.
To this end, the authorities of 6 Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt wishes to use this opportunity to extend their condolences to the families of all the victims of the evil Don Waney and his gang. We also wish to solicit your further cooperation in volunteering useful information to track down and arrest the remaining gang members so as to bring them to justice for a peaceful, prosperous and secured Omoku community, ONELGA, Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region.
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