Enekorogha community jubilates over arrest, killing of Karowei •Says peace has returned •Requests return of British missionaries

For about a week now, disenchanted and sorrowful folks at Enekorogha community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have been in a joyous and celebration mood over the arrest and eventual killing of kidnapper and killer of Dr Ian Squire, Peregbakumo Oyawerikumo, alias Karowei.

Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) codenamed Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) led by its Commander, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, had led a 7-day onslaught on notorious criminals in the creeks with the eventual arrest of Karowei and some of his gang last Thursday.

Karowei and his gang, it will be recalled, abducted four British missionaries on October 23, 2017 in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State which led to the eventual death of one of the Britons, Mr Ian Squire.

They were also allegedly responsible for several other kidnappings, robberies and raping of innocent women in the region including unprovoked attacks on military locations in Delta and Bayelsa states.

They, it was also alleged, attacked OPDS troops at Bolu Ndoro forest which led to the death of four military OPDS personnel on January 7, 2018.

Karowei’s abduction of the Britons and death of Dr Squire, led to great sorrow, mourning and suffering at Enekorogha, where they had rendered free medical services to both old and young spanning 10 years.

The exit of the Britons after the tragedy back to their base in the United Kingdom after the release of three and death of Dr Squire put paid to the free medical services brought to the peasant people.

However, information pieced from Enekorogha community this week revealed that the downcast folks had bubbled up into life after the news of the arrest and killing of Karowei filtered in.

Their joy knew no bounds because since the hunt for the kidnap kingpin began, they had been keeping vigil in the community against threats by Karowei and his gangs to launch reprisal attacks for the arrest of his relatives.

Chairman of Enekorogha community, Comrade Michael Ogobiri told the Nigerian Tribune that the peak of their liberation from bondage and celebration would come when Dr Donovan and his New Foundation crew returned to the area to continue their good works.

He disclosed that one of top military officers, a Major, attached to OPDS, specifical charged him to communicated Dr Donovan and his crew to return as peace and tranquility had returned to the area.

Ogobiri praised OPDS troops, the DSS and other security agents for their gallantry in turning the tide against Karowei, but enjoined them to smoke out for punishment every remnant of criminals associated with Karowei from the entire area.

He also admonished all the communities in the area to cooperate with the troops by exposing all the criminals especially those connected to Karowei who had escaped and hiding in their domains to security agents to serve as a deterrent to others who might think of becoming a terror to their area overnight.

Comrade Ogobiri, however, disclosed that three days before Karowei was arrested on Thursday January 11, other crew members of the New Foundation, after obtaining a go-ahead from Dr Donovan in London due to the agonies which pregnant and children were passing through, reopened the clinic to attend to folks with medical challenges.