The Delta State Police Command has begun an intensive manhunt for Chief Jerry Nkeeshe, the Owelle of Onicha-Olona, and members of an armed group linked to the killing of three young men during a violent clash near ‘B’ Division, Asaba, on November 24, 2025.
The command in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, said preliminary findings indicate that the chief allegedly led a team of vigilantes and suspected cultists, some reportedly dressed in army camouflage, to a disputed parcel of land at Okwe community along the Asaba–Onitsha Road.
The group was said to have attempted to forcibly enforce an unauthorised quit notice without any court mandate.
The operation triggered resistance from those present on the land, leading to a confrontation.
The police added that the armed group opened fire indiscriminately, inflicting gunshot wounds on three youths who later died in the hospital.
Following the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, ordered a full tactical response, deploying specialised investigators, intelligence units, and operational teams to track and arrest all suspects.
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He condemned the attack as a reckless and lawless assault, stressing that the command would not allow any individual, regardless of status or influence, to subvert the law.
The police commissioner urged residents of Onicha-Olona, Asaba, and surrounding areas to provide credible information that can aid in the arrest of the suspects, assuring that normalcy has already been restored in the affected community.
He added that surveillance, intelligence-driven patrols, and coordinated search operations are ongoing to forestall further violence.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, encouraging citizens to report suspicious activity or useful leads via the emergency line: 08036684974.
