Anambra community cries over activities of criminal gangs, land grabbers

… Begs Police for intervention

By Ovat Abeng

Umugama Village Ukwulu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State has called on the security agents and government authority to save them from the Activities of a notorious criminal gang and land grabbers led by Philip Dilibe.

Speaking to the press, on Saturday, Peter Okoye who is the Chairman of Umugama Progressive Union, Ukwulu stated that for years now Mr. Philip Dilibe and his gang have been terrorizing the community despite several reports and complaint s to relevant security agencies including the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Okoye who led the entire community to register their displeasure at Anambra State Headquarters, Awka alledged that apart from intimidation, harassment, extortion, threat to life, Philip Dilibe and his gang have upped their activities into grabbing and selling of the community land and challenge anybody who would dare them.

He further alledged that Philip Dilibe engages unknown gunmen who guard those he engages in destroying their farm land and crops.

He lamented that his life and that of his people are being threatened on daily basis.

Okoye cited an example of the sad event of 25th February, 2022 where the gunmen engaged and led by Philip Dilibe shot and wounded two persons from his community but for the Swift intervention of the Police from Dunukofia Division more harms would have been inflicted on his people.

In the process the Police recovered one pump action gun, one Tundra vehicle and some surveying equipmens from the attacker.

He also accused Phillip Dilibe of collaborating with other land grabbers outside the community to sell the community land to prospective buyers without the concern and approval of the authorities of the community.

He further alledged that Philip Dilibe stock in trade is rush to the police as the complainant and later subvert and truncate the police investigation.

Okoye stated that Philip Dilibe who is not holding any position in the community at any level has made several attempt with his partner in crime to remove him as the Chairman of the Village, but his people resist him because they believed in his leadership style.

He also accused Philip Dilibe of hiring thugs from their neighbouring communities such as Enugwu-Agidi, Nawgu and Awkuzu and sponsoring them to stage violent protest against the Traditional Ruler of Ukwulu Kingdom, HRM Igwe Peter Uyanwa who has stood by the Village against the activities of Philip Dilibe, so as to cover and divert the attention of the public from his criminal activities.

Okoye therefore, wants Philip Dilibe to desist from his iglonoble attitude, noting that the accestors of the land are currently against him.

Okoye further averred that he believes in the ability of the Police to restore peace to his community.

Corroborating the Chairman, Mrs. Nonye Okeke, the village women leader, in her brief comment, appealed to the Police to sanction Philip Dilibe for peace to returned to the village.

Mr. Philip Dilibe, in his reaction via protest at the State Police Command Headquarters, Amawobia, where some youths in support of him, blocked the Command’s gate to draw the attention of the commissioner, Mr Echeng Echeng, accused the community monarch, Igwe Peter Uyanwa of land grabbing, stating that he has also been using police operatives to arrest and lock up members of the community who dared to oppose his decision.

Mr Philip Dilibe accused the monarch of selling off their land. Asking the Traditional ruler to leave their lands for them, while wielding placards with various inscriptions.

The state police command, representative of the commissioner of Police and the police spokesman, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu advised the both aggrieved parties to get an attorney to articulate their grievances in the form of a petition, and that the commissioner will work on it to ensure peace in the community.

“We are happy that you are protesting peacefully, and we want to assure you that the commissioner will look into your petition once you write him formally and will ensure that investigation is carried out, and your grievances will be addressed,” Ikenga told the protesters.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Ukwulu, Igwe Peter Uyanwa, on his part, denied having anything to do with land belonging to Umugama village.

He said: “That village is having their own crisis, and I’m not from that village, and I have nothing to do with their land, even though I’m their traditional ruler

“They even told me they wanted to protest to my palace today for me to settle the dispute they have, but I said no, I didn’t want to receive visitors. What you must know is that more than 80 per cent of the protesters lead by the man called Dilibe, to the State Police Command, are not my subjects, they were just hired for the protest. I don’t have even one plot of land in that affected village.”