It was a horrific sight Monday afternoon at the Km 1 Asaba -Benin Expressway in Asaba, the Delta State capital as four persons were feared killed, and four others were seriously injured in a clash involving land grabbers.
Sources said the deadly clash occurred when one Jerry Nkeweshe, allegedly invaded the Hausa Quarters with armed thugs to forcefully eject the lawful tenants of Mr. Kingsley Ijebuonwu.
Chairman of the Abraka Quarters, Asaba, Alhaji Auwalu Dalhatu, flanked by the caretaker Chairman of the KM 1 Asaba – Benin Expressway, Dalha Mohammad said that on Friday, November 21, 2025 Nkeweshe in company of some thugs had threatened them to vacate the premises or face the consequences.
Dalhatu said “when they accosted us on Friday saying they would be back to forcefully eject us, we told them we have a photocopy of judgement given to us by our landlord.
”We notified the B Division of the police of their threats presenting photocopies of our landlord’s court judgements. The DPO told us to notify them should they come back because it is only the court that has the right to eject a tenants from a property.
”We waited for them on Friday only for them to come this afternoon with about 15 vehicles full of armed thugs and Vigilantes. They started shooting at us without provocation and killed three of my Hausa brothers.
”Those killed today include Kabiru Abdullahi, Mohammed and we deposited their remains at the Federal Medical Center Asaba, while Muzan, Baba Ado and others are receiving treatment at St. Rebecca’s Hospital, Asaba, where bullets were being extracted from their bodies.
”The invaders claimed that they were sent by a political bigwig to come and eject us, and we told them that our landlord, Mr. Kingsley Ijebuonwu, has a court judgment which we presented to them.”
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In a swift reaction, the landlord of the disputed land, Mr. Kingsley Ijebuonwu, traced the history of the land to when his father, Christopher Ijebuonwu acquired the land and had one Chief Uwadibia from Isele-Ukwu as his tenant.
”Later, Uwadibia started claiming ownership and in the process he died, and his wife, Gloria and son, brought in Jerry Nkeweshe, who went and brought a forged (C of O) that bears Francis Torlowei and used his own passport to impose on the passport. This is another forgery case already in court.
”We had earlier complained to the commissioner of police and had two court judgments on two occasions in our favor on the land,” Ijebuonwu said.
Counsel to the landlord, Charles Obodozie. said that it was unfortunate that people will take the laws into their hands, saying that it is only the court that has the right to eject a tenant.
When contacted about the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, stated that he was unaware of the deaths of the four persons, but that he was aware of injuries arising from the process of executing a court order.
He added however, that the state oolice command is investigating the matter.
