A former All Progressives Congress (APC) Treasurer in Delta State and Secretary-General of Uwheru Kingdom, Edewor Akpedafe, has accused the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Jaro Egbo, of allegedly leading an attack on him during a meeting convened to resolve a boundary dispute involving an oil well.
Akpedafe, who spoke from his hospital bed, alleged that he was attacked by suspected political thugs after he challenged the presence of MacPherson Igbedi, the suspended President-General of Uwheru Kingdom, at the meeting.
He claimed that Egbo arrived at the venue in three Sienna vehicles accompanied by about 50 men and allegedly threw the first punch at him before others joined in the assault.
Akpedafe further alleged that he was beaten with planks, blocks and gun butts and subsequently forced into a Hilux vehicle and taken to the local government secretariat.
According to him, the alleged assault continued at the secretariat, leaving him with injuries to his head, waist and other parts of his body.
“I can’t even walk properly now. An X-ray showed my waist was dislocated,” he alleged.
Akpedafe also accused Egbo of allegedly threatening supporters of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, claiming that the council chairman threatened to kill anyone supporting the former Deputy Senate President.
He further alleged that Egbo recorded the incident while the assault was taking place.
The incident reportedly followed a longstanding dispute over the leadership of Uwheru Kingdom, as well as a boundary disagreement between Evwreni Kingdom (Unenurhie) and Uwheru Kingdom.
According to Akpedafe, the peace meeting was held at the residence of Olorogun Miller Uloho, Chairman of the Ughelli North Local Government Advisory Committee, with five representatives selected from each of the two communities.
He said trouble started after Igbedi introduced himself as the President-General of Uwheru, prompting Akpedafe to object.
“I said no, that he was not the President-General of Uwheru. That was my only observation,” he said.
Akpedafe alleged that Igbedi subsequently left the meeting and made telephone calls, after which two mobile policemen allegedly attached to the council chairman and Egbo’s Chief Security Officer, identified as Jumbo, arrived and attempted to remove him from the venue.
He claimed that the situation escalated when he resisted being taken away.
Akpedafe said the dispute over the Uwheru presidency was already before the courts, with cases pending at the High Court and Magistrate Court.
He also appealed to the Delta State Government and security agencies to intervene, warning that the situation could degenerate into a wider crisis in Uwheru.
The Area Commander of the Ughelli Area Command reportedly directed that Akpedafe be taken to hospital after seeing his condition. He is currently receiving treatment.
Egbo denies allegations
Egbo denied the allegations and described Akpedafe as a problematic individual.
He said Akpedafe had gone to a meeting to which he was not invited and accused him of disrupting the gathering.
“He went there to disrupt the meeting. He has a series of cases of his nefarious activities in Uwheru Kingdom,” Egbo said.
The council chairman also accused Akpedafe of establishing an illegal youth body and making frivolous petitions to the Inspector-General of Police.
Egbo further alleged that Akpedafe was being supported by Omo-Agege and insisted that the former APC chieftain had to be “taught a lesson” over his conduct.
However, Egbo did not provide details supporting the allegations against Akpedafe, while the specific claims that he personally led the assault, ordered the use of weapons or threatened Omo-Agege supporters could not be independently verified.
The police have also not publicly commented on the allegations as of press time.
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