Ugep Gangstar Wars: Obla Writes Ayade, Accuse Obol Lopon Of Complicity

By Jonathan Ugbal

Okoi Obono-Obla,the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution has written Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade over the recurring gangstar wars in Ugep, Yakurr local government area of the state.

The letter comes a few days after his nephew; Jude Iroegbu Junior was murdered in cold blood by suspected members of the Black Axe confraternity who are allegedly acting as the bodyguards to the Obol Lopon of Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubangha.

Obla also named no fewer than 25 persons alleged to be members of the Axemen who were involved in one way or the other, in the killing of his nephew.

In the letter titled “REQUEST FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ORDER SECURITY AGENCIES TO CLAMP DOWN ON MURDEROUS, VICIOUS AND BLOOD THIRSTY CULT/TERROR GROUPS OPERATING IN CROSS RIVER STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION OF A JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE THE PERPETRATORS OF THE TERROR/CULT-RELATED VIOLENCE AND SPATE OF KILLINGS IN UGEP (YAKURR); OGOJA; OBUDU; CALABAR-SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF CROSS RIVER STATE,” Obla noted that there have been allegations the Government of the state is populated with known gangstars, murderers and armed robbers.

This, he said: “indeed is a dangerous trend that should not be tolerated by any government at all on account of the serious consequences of mischievous people cashing in on such trend to settle scores with perceived enemies.

“It could easily lead to the total disintegration of society and lead to a return to the era described by Thomas Hobbes, the 18th Century Legal Philosopher, when life was short, nasty and brutish. In all these the Government of Cross River State has been totally and completely ambivalent and indeed half-hearted and lukewarm in tackling this huge and ominous security problem which has assumed frightening, pandemic and endemic proportion.”

Narrating the incidence of the his nephew’s killing, he said that: Obol Ofem Ubangha charged the Axemen and gave the Palace arms and ammunition (to his Palace aide) and they went on rampage shooting guns.”

CrossRiverWatch had reported that a melee ensued when the Vikings or Bargers who had visited to intimate the Obol of their findings regarding the disappearance of an Axeman months ago, were blocked by Axemen. This caused the Obol to call the Police and ask his bodyguards to chase after the fleeing Bargers.

“The Axemen led by Item (the Obol Lopon’s Palace Aide who is an Axeman) went on rampage and began harassing People, hurting some. They came into Letamkpankom, Ijiman, Ugep, and at Eteng Effiom Abam’s drinking spot, they made an attempt to hurt some people but they were repulsed by some gallant Lekpankom youths. However, One Ikpi Oboyakpan’s son, Effiom, was wounded by the Axemen.

“From there they moved to Kekomkolo, Ijom, Ugep, where they encountered Jude Iroegbu Junior. The so called Axemen who were armed with lethal weapons such as axes, machetes and pistols pursued Jude Iroegbu Junior and caught up with him. They were led by Item Eno Obla (of Utom, Ijiman Town, Ugep); Sunday Abam (a.k.a Ojorkesorokpor) of Aneja, Ijom Town, Ugep; Nta Ofor (aka Obor) – an Aide to Obol Lopon of Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubangha). They dealt axes and machetes cuts on Jude Iroegbu Jnr. (23 years of age) and he fell down writhing in pains and thereafter, one of them shot Jude Iroegbu Jnr. on his stomach and chest, killing him.

“Other members of the Axemen who participated in the killing of Jude Iroegbu Junior include thus: Ebri Omenka; Era Felix Ibinang; Ikpi Ewa; Otu Ikpi Ewa; Sunday Ojo; Derricko Okoi; Arikpo Okoi Opukor; Cross Belt; Payapaya Obol Yaseni; Eni Offing; Idebe Etowa; Etowa Etowah; Utum Ejegbe; Ebri Udumo; Ken Senator; Ubi Eno; Eteme Ofem and Authority,” Obla wrote.

He went on to mention other names which include:

Ubi Usani Ibiang
ii. Mbasekie Usani Ibiang
iii. Eni Ibiang Offon
iv. Patrick Patrick Ettah
v. Inyang Papa Johnson
vi. Favour Prophet Mose
vii. Ikpi Obom
viii. Effa Erasmos Okoi
ix. Samsam Ekelemidomi
x. Festus Okoi Ubi
xi. Sunday Ibiang Obeten
xii. Efa Kebang Obeten
xiii. Egu Ikpi Ofem
xiv. Smith Ubi
xv. Jaman Ubi
xvi. Ofem Eteng Ofem
xvii. Joe Archibong
xviii. Ebri Okoi Ketam
xix. Emmanuel Eteng (a.k.a Pepeco)
xx. Usani Abam Thomas
xxi. Okoi Ofem Ogon,AKA spaco
xxii. Ebri Ikpi Ngum
xxiii. Edet Uket Iyamba
xxiv. Eze Fedelix Oden
xxv. Uket Esekpa (a.k.a Father Father)

Obla said he feared that if no action was taken, “The entire State may sooner than later be consumed by an orgy of killings and murders never seen in the annals of the history of this State and indeed the country.

“The incident of 29th June, 2017, has caused palpable tension and fear in the Ugep Community and unless something is done there is a likelihood of reprisals and communal violence erupting in Ugep which is the second largest Urban City in Cross River State.

“It has shaken the foundation and social fabric and integrity of Ugep society. In order to prevent a reprisal and or communal conflict from erupting in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State by a gang of cultists and terrorists, the Government must intervene immediately and decisively.

“In the light of the above, I respectfully pray the Governor of Cross River State to:
I. Request the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of State Security Services and Comptroller General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to immediately deploy/constitute a Crack Team of Detectives/Squads to investigate the brutal killing of Mr. Jude Iroegbu Junior on the 29th June, 2017, by a group of Axemen led by Item Eno Obla of Utom, Ijiman Town, Ugep; Sunday Ojor (Kisolokpo) of Aneja, Ijom Town, Ugep; and Nta Ofor (aka Obor) – an aide to the Obol Lopon of Ugep, Obol Ubangha Ofem),” among others.