Lawmaker Linked With Kelvin, Kidnap Kingpin

Lawmaker linked with Kelvin, kidnap kingpin



…accused of shielding kidnapper from arrest . 13 die in soldiers, gang members’ shootout. Kokori deserted

Indications emerged yesterday that a member of the House of Representatives from Delta State (names withheld) might be invited for questioning by the State Security Service, SSS, over his relationship with the notorious kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah, who was arrested on Wednesday.

This is even as about 13 persons were feared dead in Wednesday’s gun duel between the troops of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shields, and armed followers of the notorious kidnap kingpin in Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Sources at the Delta State Command of SSS told our correspondent yesterday that evidence had linked the federal lawmaker with the notorious criminal. The suspect was reported to have served as political thug to the lawmaker in the previous election in the state.

Sources in the SSS told National Mirror that the lawmaker had been shielding and protecting Kelvin from arrest, adding that the service was in possession of overwhelming evidence that the lawmaker had served as godfather of the bandit.

The source said: “We may have to invite a member of the House of Representatives (names withheld) for questioning due to overwhelming evidence we have against him that Kelvin is too close to him. The report is damning and implicating and we cannot do otherwise.

The lawmaker has to come to explain his side of the story. “The report indicated that Kelvin had been relating with the lawmaker and in fact it was discovered that Kelvin has been the political thug of the lawmaker and that the member of the House is one of the people protecting and covering up Kelvin’s atrocities in Kokori.

“Nobody is above the law and certainly the lawmaker is not above the law and we will invite the lawmaker for interrogation to enable him explain what he knows about the various crimes committed by Kelvin.”

In Kokori, fear has gripped politicians and community leaders from the area who are apprehensive that they could be arrested in the ongoing investigations of the activities of the bandits. While his criminal exploits lasted, Kelvin operated a den in the community, where he enjoyed the backing and support of his kinsmen to carry out his nefarious activities.

He was said to have kidnapped and killed his victims and operated a camp where he trained thousands of his kinsmen and graduated them into criminal activities.

Efforts by Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and heads of security agencies in the region, including that of JTF to elicit information that could lead to the arrest of the hoodlums from the leaders of Kokori community, had been repeatedly rebuffed.

The arrest of the most wanted kidnap kingpin and notorious bandit on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and subsequent invasion of Kokori by federal troops, who effected the arrest of the chief priest of the community (Ose-Igba) who reportedly prepared charms for Kelvin and his boys, triggered protests by his kinsmen.

It was learnt that armed gangsters had confronted the troops, a development, which reportedly sparked exchange of gunfire between the two sides. It was learnt yesterday that Kelvin’s troops eventually bowed to the superior fire powers of the federal troops. National Mirror gathered that no fewer than 13 armed youths were feared dead during the encounter.

Eleven other members of the gang were injured in the encounter, including scores of youths and other residents arrested by the soldiers and whisked to the headquarters of the 3rd Battalion, Effurun, the headquarters of Uvwie Local Government, for interrogation, apparently to establish their relationship with the notorious criminal.

Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Ikechukwu Adaba, however, said that “only two youths were killed in action.” Adaba, who stated that his men were not involved in the exercise, told our correspondent that reports available to him did not indicate that the confrontation recorded heavy casualties.

Kelvin was apprehended by a combined team of SSS officials from Abuja and Delta State Command in collaboration with the troops of JTF for heinous crimes, including the killing of over 100 persons.

His arrest on Wednesday came barely a week after he attempted to transform into Niger Delta activism by issuing a 60-day ultimatum to the Delta and Federal Governments to develop Kokori community and Urhoboland, threatening that his group would blow up oil installations and pipelines in the areas.

Kokori was deserted when our correspondent visited the area yesterday. The youths and other indigenes, including community leaders had fled the area to adjoining forest and neighbouring towns within the locality. Schools, hospitals and other public institutions were desolate in the early hours of yesterday.

The youths set many bonfires and placed caskets at strategic locations apparently before fleeing the community. Over 20 cars were vandalised and burnt by the rampaging youths. One of the vehicles belonged to a popular beverage company.

Heavy presence of security personnel was observed at the scene which was saturated by the military, police and SSS. The Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, Lt.-Col. Ifeanyi Otu, and his 222 Battalion, Ughelli, counterpart, Col. Ibeh, led some troops to the scene apparently to complement the existing personnel on the ground. Otu told the troops to be on red alert and prevent the return of the criminals to the community.

He added that the operation would be a continuous exercise until the area was rid of criminals. Adaba confirmed in the telephone interview that Kokori had been deserted since Wednesday, adding that the area had also been fortified with security personnel.

“The place (Kokori) is deserted and our (police) men are fully on the ground there since yesterday (Wednesday) to protect lives and property of lawabiding citizens of the area and keep the criminals at bay.

We have various units of the police, including the anti-kidnapping and special mobile force in place to compliment the soldiers,” the CP added. Officials of the Red Cross were seen arriving at the community ostensibly to help the victims of the crisis as our correspondent departed the area.

Uduaghan yesterday appealed for calm over the incident. The governor, who spoke to journalists in Warri, appealed to newsmen to exercise restraint and caution in reporting the incident in order not to worsen the security situation in the area.

Uduaghan, who said he was in touch with leaders of the troubled community, especially the embattled monarch, however, admitted that the area had been deserted by residents. He assured that efforts were being made by all relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy to the community

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