A notorious crime boss known as Onoriode, a.k.a Onos Okeribo who operated in the Oghara Community Area of Ethiope East, Delta State, has been lynched.
Onos’ death followed his arrest in Edo State by members of the local vigilante group who had known of his brutal reputation.
According to numerous police and local sources, a series of investigations found that Onos was the mastermind behind the armed robbery, murder for hire, and kidnappings in the area and operated with the open protection and collaboration of the 19th Battalion operating near the Oghara area.
Investigations also revealed that last year Onos paid members of the 19th Battalion to protect him while he carried out his criminal activities in the area, including illegal oil bunkering, kidnapping for ransom, and carjacking.
This was revealed shortly after Lance Corporal Obinna of the 19th Battalion shot and killed Benson Ogedegbe, the Chairman of the Oghara vigilante group, in broad daylight on the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Aminu Umar, the late Mr. Ogedegbe had been accused of informing the police of the illicit activities of Onos and the 19th Battalion.
Further investigations of the battalion also revealed that Mr. Umar, the 19th Battalion Commanding Officer, ordered his troops to abduct and torture protesters in the Koko military base in Oghara, Delta State.
The notorious battalion made headlines again in March this year when it went on a rampage in Ekpan community, Delta State, damaging millions of naira worth of property and wounding several persons.
According to an eyewitness who witnessed the lynching of Onos, said that he was attacked by an angry mob, leaving him in a pool of blood surrounded by broken bottles, sticks, and stones. He added that the deceased was the ringleader of a “daredevil criminal gang” that terrorised the community with kidnappings, armed robberies, and pipeline vandalism.
Source and photo credit: TVC