Threat To Life: Police Arrests Two Suspects In Delta Community

The Police “A” Division in Warri, Delta State, have arrested two suspects over an alleged threat to life and properties, malicious damage and others, just as other suspects escaped.

The arrested suspects include Dennis Essi and Madam Oyibo Essi.

Those who escaped are Evuarhere Atiewor, Tony Ofodu, one Ovo who was allegedly involved in a prison break matter, Voke, Oghenevwegba and Tobore, grand children of late Essi, Blessing Godbless and Showkey.

They were said to have threatened to kill the Chairman of Igbudu Community, Amb. Pius Ogheneovo Oyiboaga, as well as damage the properties of market women.

At the time of filing this report, the Police is still investigating the matter.

Narrating how the incident occurred, the Chairman of Igbudu Community, Amb. Pius Ogheneovo Oyiboaga, alleged that, “They threatened to assassinate me. But I was not moved.”

He claimed Madam Oyibo Essi before now had illegally collected revenues from traders(women) at Igbudu Market square forcefully.

Oyiboaga noted that the market squarely belongs to the Igbudu Community pointing out that Madam Essi had allegedly carried out the unlawful act without the authorization of the community.

“She collects the money from the women using diabolic powers. When the elders talk, she uses diabolic powers on them.

“She oppresses the market women and say they should be paying unnecessary revenues. She does increment of the revenue.

“She ceased the loads of the market women. Before the loads are released back, sometimes they get spoilt. She still uses diabolic powers to fight the women.”

Oyiboaga claimed that Madam Essi warned the traders to stay away if they cannot yield to  her demands.

“The market women wrote a letter to the elders who invited her but she (Madam Essi) said the community has no right.

“Elders set up a committee to look into the matter and they agreed to give the woman a percentage and set up a task force to monitor the market.

“Essi family came out to the market fully ready for war when I got a distressed call.

“Before I arrived, they had already chased away the market women and destroyed their goods.

“The Essi family said the market women should come to Essi Compound in Essi Layout but I insisted that the community owns them and their family.

I later mobilized some of my youths to the market where I met one Austin Essi who appealed that I live the matter.

“Suddenly, Dennis Essi who has been parading himself as a lawyer came with over 30 boys with daggers, knives and bottles. They scattered the market and destroyed properties. They attacked the market women.

“Austin Managed the situation and.I called the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. I also made entry at the Police Station.

“The Essi youths resisted arrests and tried to engage the Police in a fierce combat.”

“I am advising the Essi Family to steer clear from the Igbudu market Square. You cannot fight the community and hold what belongs to her as your own. Community supercedes all and they should work with the orders of the community. “