In what seems to be a crisis, a Community leader in the oil-rich Riverine area of Ondo State, High Chief Bibopere Ajube, has accused a suspected Criminal Gang led by one Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) for allegedly masterminding the gruesome killing of six local vigilantes at Egbema in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

 

He was accused to have allegedly carried out the dastardly act on July 14, 2021.

Ajube who is also the Ibepiriseikumoh of Ijaw Ibe in Ese-Ode Local Government Area of Ondo state raised the alarm in a press statement made available to reporters in Akure.

 

He urged the military and other security operatives to tackle the rising killings and criminal activities of MK’s gang.

 

Ajube added that the the murder of government security operatives and local vigilante is a strategy to instill fear in the people.

 

This, he noted is done to make people succumb to (MK) criminal agenda unchallenged.

 

The statement reads, “I have watched in awe the deliberate twisting and misrepresentation of the facts with regards to this matter. Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) is been deliberately glorified and tagged ‘a militant leader’ whereas he is a known criminal whose records are there in the public domain.

 

“Someone who is responsible for the killing of 13 persons including 5 government security operatives within a space of one month should not be treated with kid’s gloves and must be addressed properly.

 

“The murder of Government Security Operatives and Local Vigilante is a strategy to instill fear on our people so that they will succumb to his (MK) criminal agenda unchallenged.

 

“The reading public should know that what is happening in the riverine area of Edo and Delta State is a pure criminal activity of a gang trying to assert themselves to expand their stock in trade and not rivalry of different groups as intended by the various reports in circulation.

 

“I wish to state that the activities of this criminal gang led by Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) can only be crushed by a well-planned military operations. The creek like other land operations has its own peculiar challenges and successful operations will require the support of the locals.”

 

Ajube called on the Egbema Peacekeepers and all well-meaning sons and daughters of the region to continue giving their support to government security agencies in their bid to clear the communities of all criminal vices.

 

The statement added, “Mr Kutu Mone (alias MK) was a member of the once dreaded and decimated criminal gang led by the now demised O.C Ibori who terrorized Lagos, Ogun, Edo and the southern part of Ondo State with his kidnapping, bunkering and armed robbery activities between 2014-2017.

 

“Along with some others, he accepted the Ondo State government amnesty program in 2017 but continued violence thereafter.

 

“With collaborators from Edo State, this criminal network accounts for a large portion of all kidnapping and armed robbery cases in the entire Southern parts of Ondo, Edo and Delta States and environs including parts of Lagos and Ogun States.

 

“Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) who hails from Asere in Arogbo Kingdom of Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State returned to his community in November 2019 from Epe area of Lagos after his hideout in Epe was burnt down by men of the Nigerian Police IGP-IRT who during that operation released a kidnapped female NYSC member.

 

“Upon returning to his community, MK recruited people of like mind and sent them forth to cause mayhem on the unsuspecting public. He carried out armed robbery, kidnapping, sea piracy from his hideout and his effect was felt across the Southern part of Ondo, Edo and Delta States respectively.

 

“It took the combined force of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Gallery Security Services Ltd (a private guard company) to destroy his hideout in Asere on the 4th of December, 2020. During that operations MK narrowly escaped arrest however, two kidnap victims were released, live arms and ammunition recovered and one of his gang members was arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Police, Ondo State Command.

 

“Prior to destruction of his hideout in Asere area of Ondo State, Mr Kutu Mone alongside his gang members were involved in the following under listed criminal activities:

 

“The killing of 9 police men in Arepo area of Ogun State in June 2014, Murder of DSS operatives in Ikorodu area of Lagos state in 2015, Lekki and Ikorodu bank robberies in 2015 and Festac and Agbara robberies in 2016, Kidnap of a Female National Youth Service Corps member in Ibeju Lekki in November, 2019.

 

“Kidnap of Teachers and students of Turkish International School Epe, Lagos on Friday 13th, 2017 Kidnap of Students of Boys Model School Igbonla, Ogun State on Thursday 25th May, 2017.

 

“Attack of marine police station at Akotogbo, Ondo State and stealing of Gunboat and other Arms and Ammunition on 26th September, 2020.

 

“Killing of a Nigerian Soldier in Okomu in Ovia South West Area of Edo State on 24th October, 2020 and his rifle taken away.

 

Kidnap of Engr. Imole and Capt. J. J. both kidnapped from their tug boat on 29th October, 2020 around Koko, Delta State.”