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By David Odama
The National cordinator of the National Guide for Truit and Justice, Marcus Okafor has strongly denied online claims by Sahara Reporters publisher Sowore Omoyele, alleging the involvement of the senator representing Delta North, Senator End Nwoko in land grabbing and past community violence in Idumuje Ugboko.
Recalled that the allegations has drawn sharp rebukes from community leaders and legal sources familiar with the matter.
Reacting to the claims, National Coordinator of the National Guide for Truth & Justice, Marcus Okafor described the claims as “malicious falsehoods” lacking any factual basis.
According to Okafor, the 90-hectare land in Idumuje Ugboko, designated for the establishment of a Sports University, was formally approved in 2015 by the late Obi of the community, HRM Albert Nwoko, following extensive consultations with stakeholders from the four federating villages. The land was subsequently allocated to Linas International Limited, a company owned by Senator Nwoko.
Okafor explained that tensions in the community escalated only after Chukwunonso Nwoko, the current state-installed Obi, began issuing unilateral orders from the palace while his father was still alive.
Following HRM Albert Nwoko’s death in February 2017, violent attacks orchestrated by Chukwunonso Nwoko left 29 community members traumatized.
Homes were destroyed or burned, and several victims remain incapacitated to this day. Some families have spent years seeking justice in court for the atrocities committed.
“These are the criminals that Sowore is celebrating today, while completely forgetting the victims,”Okafor said.
He described the latest media reports as a distortion of facts meant to portray the oppressors as victims.
The 2017 mayhem included the brutal assault of community leaders such as Chief Chukwuka Christopher Ogwu (Iyase) and Chief Sunday Odemodu (Odogwu), whose homes and vehicles were vandalized.
One innocent bystander, Cyprian Kumuolu, a motorcycle rider from Benue State, was killed in front of Chukwunonso’s residence, and his body was allegedly mutilated and disposed of.
Another victim, Kennedy Iloh, former secretary of the community’s land allocation committee, later died from injuries sustained during the attack. Some survivors, like Ogbuefi Victor Omezi, were forced to relocate abroad for safety after losing their homes and businesses.
Okafor emphasised that legal investigations and official records support Senator Nwoko’s innocence. A former Inspector General of Police inquiry cleared him of any land grabbing, and Delta State authorities confirmed the legitimacy of the land allocation. Compensation amounting to hundreds of millions of naira was paid to farmers whose crops were affected by the land allocation.
Additionally, key allegations including a forged letter purportedly signed by HRM Albert Nwoko—were proven false in court, resulting in the conviction of Chukwunonso Nwoko and two others for forgery in March 2024.
He also condemned attempts to implicate Senator Nwoko or his family in unrelated deaths, including that of a young man named Blessing, who tragically drowned at a government-approved tourist site.
“These are concocted stories that ignore the real perpetrators and the suffering of the victims from the 2017 mayhem,” Okafor said.
Highlighting the positive impact of Senator Nwoko’s initiatives, Okafor noted that the Sports University in Idumuje Ugboko is now in its third year, providing significant benefits to the local community and achieving global recognition.
“The university project has been a transformative force for Idumuje Ugboko, contrary to baseless claims,” he said.
As the ANIOMA state creation movement gains momentum, Senator Nwoko’s supporters remain focused on his legislative achievements and community development projects. Okafor urged that disputes be resolved through lawful channels rather than media campaigns that spread misinformation.
According to him, “the focus of ANIOMA people is on progress, transformation, and justice,” while affirming that the community is fully supportive of Senator Nwoko’s efforts to uplift the region.
