7th January, 2018
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
It has been mass jubilation in Omoku in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni local government and environs in Rivers state as the 6 Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt announced the killing of the notorious cult leader and kidnap kingpin, Don Waney, at his hideout in Enugu state.
In a statement, the Army stated that in the early hours of Monday, 20th November, 2017, troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army, acting on credible information from some patriotic members of the public raided the evil Don Waney enclave in Omoku, ONELGA Rivers State where shocking discoveries of assorted weapons, dynamites, bags of suspected cannabis, full military camouflage uniforms, military boots, military communication radios, 10 human skulls and human bones were discovered.
”Additionally, in continuation of the operation on Tuesday 21 November 2017, the troops also exhumed decomposing bodies of some of his victims in his shrine in the glaring eyes of the media who were invited to witness first hand. Perhaps not satisfied with the numerous lives of innocent citizens he took, Don Waney masterminded the despicable New Year day mayhem in Omoku in which he led his notorious gang of criminals to murder 23 peace loving citizens of Omoku when they were returning from Cross Over Service at about 1:30am on Monday 1st January 2018.”
The statement signed by Colonel Aminu Ilyiasu, Deputy Director Army Public Relations said after intense surveillance activities on him and his gang by the Department of State Services (DSS), Rivers State Command, revealed that after committing these atrocities he relocated to a neighbourhood within Enugu Town in Enugu State where he rented an apartment and started living among unsuspecting neighbours within the community.
The army stated further that from the relative safety of his newly-rented apartment, Don Waney was already perfecting plans to wrought another mayhem in Omoku in which he was to attack churches, schools, Army and Police locations and the residences of the generality of the already traumatized people of Omoku. However, following the discovery of his new Enugu neighbourhood hideout by the DSS Rivers State Command, a combined team of troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu and personnel of DSS Rivers State Command raided the hideout to arrest him and his other accomplices.
Incidentally on sensing that the combine team were closing in on his residence, Don Waney, his Second- in- Command (Ikechukwu Adiele) and another gang member (Lucky Ode) attempted to escape through the back exit of the apartment and were shot down by the eagle eyed troops in the process. One of them died on the spot while the other 2 who sustained gun shot wounds eventually died while being evacuated for medical attention.
”The remains of Don Waney and his cohorts were brought back to Port Harcourt Rivers State by the combined team and handed over to the Rivers State Police Command for further action. To this end, the authorities of 6 Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt wishes to use this opportunity to extend their condolences to the families of all the victims of the evil Don Waney and his gang.
”We also wish to solicit your further cooperation in volunteering useful information to track down and arrest the remaining gang members so as to bring them to justice for a peaceful, prosperous and secured Omoku community, ONELGA, Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region. You are kindly requested to disseminate this information to the general public. Thank you for your usual cooperation.
It would be recalled that the President Muhammadu Buhari was so concerned about the Omoku massacre on new year day that he sent a presidential delegation led by Lt. General Abduraham Dabanzzua, Minister of Interior, who visited Governor Nyesom Wike in Government House Port Harcourt and and the scene of the Omoku massacre.