By Cajetan Mmuta
Indigenes and residents of Umugama village Ukwulu community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State have called on security agencies and the state government to save them from the activities of a notorious criminal gang and land grabbers allegedly led by one Philip Dilibe.
Spokesperson for protesters, Mr Peter Okoye who is the Chairman of Umugama Progressive Union, Ukwulu said that for years now Mr. Philip Dilibe and his gang have been terrorizing the community despite several reports and complaints to relevant security agencies including the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Okoye who led the entire community to register their displeasure at the Anambra State Headquarters, Awka alledged that apart from intimidation, harassment, extortion, threats to life, Philip Dilibe and his gang have upped their activities into grabbing and selling of the community land and challenged anybody who would dare them.
He further alledged that Philip Dilibe engages unknown gunmen who guard those he engaged in destruction of their farm lands and crops.
He lamented that his life and those of his people were being threatened on daily basis.
Okoye cited the sad event of 25th February, 2022 where the gunmen led by Philip Dilibe shot and wounded two persons from his community but for the swift intervention of the Police from Dunukofia Division more harms would have been inflicted on his people.
He stated that in the process of the madness the Police recovered one pump action gun, one Tundra vehicle and some surveying equipment from the attacker.
He also accused Phillip Dilibe of collaborating with other land grabbers outside the community to sell the community land to prospective buyers without the concern and approval of the authorities of the community.
He further alledged that Philip Dilibe stock in trade is rush to the police as the complainant and later subvert and truncate the police investigation.
Okoye stated that Philip Dilibe who is not holding any position in the community at any level has made several attempt with his partner in crime to remove him as the Chairman of the Village, but his people resist him because they believed in his leadership style.
He also accused Philip Dilibe of hiring thugs from their neighbouring communities such as Enugwu-Agidi, Nawgu and Awkuzu and sponsoring them to stage violent protest against the Traditional Ruler of Ukwulu Kingdom, HRM Igwe Peter Uyanwa who has stood by the Village against the activities of Philip Dilibe, so as to cover and divert the attention of the public from his criminal activities.
Okoye declared that Philip Dilibe should desist from his iglonoble attitude, noting that the accestors of the land are currently against him.
Okoye further averred that he believes in the ability of the Police to restore peace to his community.
Similarly, Mrs. Nonye Okeke, the village women leader, appealed to the Police to sanction Philip Dilibe for peace to returned to the village.
But I his reaction Mr. Philip Dilibe, in his reaction through a counter protest at the State Police Command Headquarters, Amawobia, by some youths loyal to him, accused the monarch of the community, Igwe Peter Uyanwa of alleged land grabbing.
The youths stated that he !.onarc had also been using police operatives to arrest and lock up members of the community who dared to oppose his decisions.
The youths in back attires had during their own protest blocked the entrance gate of the police Command in order to draw the attention of the commissioner, Mr Echeng Echeng.
Mr Philip Dilibe accused the monarch of selling off their land.
He asked the traditional ruler to leave their lands for them, while wielding placards with various inscriptions.
The state commissioner of Police who was represented by the police spokesman, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu advised the both aggrieved parties to get an attorney to articulate their grievances in the form of a petition, assuring them that the police commissioner would ensure peace in the community.
“We are happy that you are protesting peacefully, and we want to assure you that the commissioner will look into your petition once you write him formally and will ensure that investigation is carried out, and your grievances will be addressed,” Ikenga told the protesters.”
The traditional ruler of Ukwulu, Igwe Peter Uyanwa, on his part, denied having anything to do with land belonging to Umugama village.
He said: “That village is having their own crisis, and I’m not from that village, and I have nothing to do with their land, even though I’m their traditional ruler”.
“They even told me they wanted to protest to my palace today for me to settle the dispute they have, but I said no, I didn’t want to receive visitors. What you must know is that more than 80 per cent of the protesters lead by the man called Dilibe, to the State Police Command, are not my subjects, they were just hired for the protest. I don’t have even one plot of land in that affected village,” he added.
