RIVERS POLICE NEUTRALIZE NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL KINGPIN
By faith kordoo
The Rivers State Police Command says it has apprehended and neutralized a wanted, notorious criminal cult leader, identified as Peter “Daddy” Chukwu.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, confirmed this while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters at Moscow road, noting that Daddy Chukwu was killed at his Native Doctor place in Delta State in a joint operation between some police teams from Abuja, Delta, and Rivers State.
Peter ‘Daddy’ Chukwu, also known as Oboni, who hails from Omoku in Rivers State, was a notorious gangster who oversaw a multi-faceted criminal enterprise bordering on cultism, kidnapping, murder, and assassination, among other crimes.
He has been on the wanted list of the Nigerian police since 2017 after leading his gang to kill numerous persons in Mgbuoshimini in Obio-Akpor Local government Area of the state in 2017.
He always had a hit list that included persons who had offended or challenged him, those he considered a threat and those he had been paid to assassinate.
Following an onslaught on the abattoir area of the Mgbuoshimini community in the early hours on October 9, 2017, during which he and his gang attacked and murdered 22 people in cold blood, burning some of their victims alive, the Police declared him, and eight others wanted.
Consequently, he fled the community and went into hiding. Resurfacing in 2023 and began another reign of terror, as he arrogated himself the position of chief adjudicator in the community and would frequently force people with disputes to appear before him, torturing, mutilation and killing those adjudged to have committed offences, such as being alleged of stealing phones.
On the 13th of January, 2024, Oboni and his murderous band shot and killed the Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman of Mgbuoshimini, Ndidi Livingstone, as he was stepping out of the auditorium of Peculiar Faith Ministries, Rumueme after a church service, sped off in a waiting black SUV which the police have now recovered.
The notorious gangster is said to have killed the CDC chairman because he collaborated with other stakeholders in establishing a local vigilante group known as OSPAC, aimed at safeguarding the community.
During a visit to the widow and family of the slain community leader, the Rivers state Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, directed a nationwide manhunt for the killers.
Having narrowly escaped arrest by operatives of a special task force of the Rivers State Police Command, comprising of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and operatives of the state command, at about 1:am on March 16, 2024, the suspect left behind his personal effects, including a hit list containing names of his next victims and other vital documents and gadgets that gave the Police a clear picture of the extent of sophistication he operated with.
Following his close encounter with the authorities, Oboni fled to Asaba in Delta State, where here he remained in hiding before returning briefly to Port Harcourt, boasting of his invincibility and the power of his charms.
Unfazed by the notorious gangster’s initial escape, on April 5, 2024, around 4 am, a coordinated team launched an assault on his hideout. The team, comprising the Rivers State Command Tactical Team and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), advanced to Delta to locate the criminal’s hideout.
With support from the Delta State Commissioner of Police, operatives from the command joined the conclusive operation, resulting in the neutralization of the suspect, who in an attempt to escape, was fatally wounded and succumbed to the injury before arriving at the hospital.
CP Disu commended the Inspector General of Police, the CP Delta State, operatives of Rivers State Police Command, and residents of the state for their continuous support in bringing peace and assured the commitment of the police to ensuring the security of lives and properties.
Operatives of the police arrested five gang members of late DADDY CHUKWU, recovered some pump action gun, AK47, military and police camouflage in course of investigation into the killing of the notorious criminal.
The police commissioner assured that efforts are in top gear to arrest all of Peter ‘Daddy’ Chukwu’s associates and sponsors.