The Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) in Delta State, has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the recent murder of a youth leader, Emiko Onuwaje in Ogidigben.

Mr Eyengho Besidone, the Secretary of the UCMC read the demands of the committee at a media briefing over the weekend at Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.

The statement of the committee was co-signed by Mr Besidone and the Chairman of UCMC, Mr Emmanuel Onuwaje.

The committee also called on the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to treat the Dec. 20, 2025 murder of late Onuwaje as a matter of national security concern.

The Ugborodo leadership said that the issue should be treated as a matter of national security concern “involving organized crime, illegal arms and sabotage of state authority,”.

The committee noted that the demands became absolutely imperative in view of a central figure’s involvement in the violent activities at Ogidigben.

They alleged that the central figure who happened to be a traditional chief, had continued to walk freely on the streets of Warri “untouched by law enforcement agencies, regardless of several petitions written against him,”.

The committee, therefore, called on the Inspector – General of Police to ensure the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of the said traditional chief and all his identified accomplices.

The Ugborodo leadership also demanded for the immediate investigation into the alleged involvement of compromised security personnel in the gruesome murder of the said deceased.

The committee further sought for protection for the witnesses and community members who were under threats and intimidation.

According to the committee, since the murder of Mr Onuwaje, members of a “criminal group have openly threatened to inflict further harm on Ugborodo residents, repeatedly boasting that the matter is settled, nothing will happen”.

The committee further averred that the perceived “criminal group” claimed that an “indigenous top security official of Delta State government, is behind their confidence”.

“We have observed with grave worry that certain individuals are deliberately attempting to manipulate, dilute and mischaracterized this case, presenting it as a miscarriage of justice, rather than the cold-blooded murder that it clearly is.

“This deliberate distortion, is dangerous. It emboldens criminals, erodes public confidence in the justice system and sends the wrong signal to our community, already under pressure of future attack,” the committee said.

However, a prominent Ugborodo indigene, Chief Ayirimi Emami alleged that some highly placed individuals were shuttling between Abuja and other places to ensure the matter was swept under the carpet.

Chief Emami, a renowned All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain in Delta, said that he would never support killing of innocent Itsekiris.

He disclosed that his surveillance security company had written series of petition regarding alleged illegal bunkering activities of one Okpeyo in Ogidigben, adding that all efforts to arrest the situation, had remained unsuccessful.

On his part, Pa James Mene, the Deputy Olare – Aja of Ogidigben Community, appealed to both the federal and Delta State governments and the relevant security’agencies to ensure justice for late Emiko Onuwaje.

•PHOTO, From Left: Venture Omosowhofa, Boyi Peter, Besidone Eyengho, Pa. James Mene, Acting Olare-Aja, of Ogidigben, Austin Ajuremisan, UCMC PRO, Emmanuel Onuwaje, UCMC Chairman, and others

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