A notorious kidnapper, prince Igwedibia, popularly known as Don Wani, who allegedly masterminded the killing of 23 persons in Omoku in Rivers state has been killed.
Our source gathered that Wani, a suspected militant leader, was confirmed killed in a combined operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Army in Enugu state.
A source said the incident happened at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 6.
Don Waney was shot and killed alongside his second-in-command and another member of his gang.
Waney and members of his gang were fingered in the gruesome murder of 17 persons in the early hours of the New Year.
A statement by the authority of 6 division of Nigerian army in Port Harcourt confirmed the death of the notorious kidnap kingpin and mass murderer, Don Waney.
The statement which was signed by deputy director army public relations, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu read: "The authorities of 6 Division Nigerian army Port Harcourt wish to inform the peace loving people of Omoku in ONELGA in particular, Rivers state and indeed the entire good people of Niger Delta in general that the notorious cult leader, kidnap kingpin and mass murderer Don Waney is dead.
"Recall that in the early hours of Monday 20th November 2017, troops of 6 Division Nigerian army acting on credible information from some patriotic members of the public raided the evil Don Waney enclave in Omoku, ONELGA Rivers state where shocking discoveries of assorted weapons, dynamites, bags of suspected cannabis, full military camouflage uniforms, military boots, military communication radios, 10 human skulls and human bones were discovered.
"Additionally, in continuation of the operation on Tuesday 21st November 2017, the troops also exhumed decomposing bodies of some of his victims in his shrine in the glaring eyes of the media who were invited to witness first hand.
"Perhaps not satisfied with the numerous lives of innocent citizens he took, Don Waney masterminded the despicable New Year day mayhem in Omoku in which he led his notorious gang of criminals to murder 23 peace loving citizens of Omoku when they were returning from Cross Over Service at about 1:30am on Monday 1st January 2018.
"Intense surveillance activities on him and his gang by the Department of State Services (DSS) Rivers state command revealed that after committing these atrocities he relocated to a neighbourhood within Enugu Town in Enugu state where he rented an apartment and started living among unsuspecting neighbours within the community.
"From the relative safety of his newly-rented apartment, Don Waney was already perfecting plans to wrought another mayhem in Omoku in which he was to attack churches, schools, Army and Police locations and the residences of the generality of the already traumatized people of Omoku.
"However, following his successful geo-location to his new Enugu neighbourhood hideout by the DSS Rivers State Command, a combined team of troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu and personnel of DSS Rivers state Command raided the hideout to arrest him and his other accomplices.
"Incidentally on sensing that the combine team were closing in on his residence, Don Waney, his Second- in- Command (Ikechukwu Adiele) and another gang member (Lucky Ode) attempted to escape through the back exit of the apartment and were shot down by the eagle eyed troops in the process.
"One of them died on the spot while the other 2 who sustained gun shot wounds eventually died while being evacuated for medical attention.
"The remains of Don Waney and his cohorts were brought back to Port Harcourt Rivers state by the combine team and handed over to the Rivers State Police Command for further action.
"To this end, the authorities of 6 Division Nigerian army Port Harcourt wishes to use this opportunity to extend their condolences to the families of all the victims of the evil Don Waney and his gang.
"We also wish to solicit your further cooperation in volunteering useful information to track down and arrest the remaining gang members so as to bring them to justice for a peaceful, prosperous and secured Omoku community, ONELGA, Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region.
"You are kindly requested to disseminate this information to the general public. Thank you for your usual cooperation.
The January 1, 2018 killing of 23 people returning from church in Omoku, Rivers State, shocked Nigerians with President Muhammadu Buhari ordering that those involved be identified and appropriately dealt with.
Meanwhile,the police in
Rivers state started a manhunt to find the perpetrators of the killing of 17 Christian worshippers which took place in Omoku on New Year's Day.
Ahmed Zaki who is the state commissioner of police regretted the tragic incident describing it as an isolated case.
He said a manhunt has started and said anyone caught to be connected with the tragic incident will face justice.
He assured persons and companies in the area of safety saying there were enough police personnel to provide adequate security.
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