The people of Agadama Community, Uwheru kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have raised alarm over an alleged invasion of  their community by dreaded armed bandits just as they called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Delta State Government to come to their rescue.

The people said that the call for assistance  to Mohammed Abubakar  has become expedient as  several efforts made to get aid from the DeltaState police authorities have failed adding that the development has  now  compelled them to sleep with one eye closed.

Earlier, High Priest and Chairman Uwheru Clan Vigilante group, Chief Famous Eritomi  disclosed that the vigilante group has been encountering series of road blocks mounted by armed robbers along the Ughelli/Patani highway since December last year, adding that the group has had  gun battles with armed robbers in ten different occasions.

“I called the DPO of A’Division and told him that we have arrested an informant of the armed robbers that are disturbing the road. The boy  confessed that he is the one that always carry their guns for them. He said he uses an insecticide pumping can to carry their guns for them. He also confessed that they have two AK 47 riffles  recovered from Fulani men some years ago.

We brought the boy the A’ Division Police Station and the DPO gave us two policemen to go and raid the place. We raided Daniel’s house without any casualties because they have escaped before we got there. We then arrested two girls that we met in the house Eritomi said.”

Chief Eritomi also alleged that since the arrest of one of the suspected armed robbers, one Community Leader in Agadama Community (names withheld) who act as the godfather to the armed robbers assembled all the armed robbers in and around the community and they have been terrorizing the people, killing, maiming, raping their women, burning and destroying houses and property including schools in the community.

Chief Eritomi further disclosed that the people now live in perpetual fear as the armed robbers have succeeded in holding the whole community hostage, adding that even the police could not enter into the community without being challenged by the armed robbers, he said the armed robbers also attacked one of the teachers teaching at Izeze Primary school, Agadama, adding that they have succeeded in chasing away all the teachers and pupils in both the secondary and primary schools in the community, just as he said that the Local Education Authority Secretary who went there to see things for himself with his team were chased away by the armed bandits.

Also, Evang. Peter Emazobu, secretary to the Local Education Authority in Ughelli North Local Government Area confirmed that he and his men were attacked while trying to inspect the level of damage done by the armed robbers in the school. Evangelist Emazobu lamented that nothing seems to be done over the issue in spite of the fact that the matter has been brought to the attention of the police in Ughelli.