The Department of State Services detained an Asaba High Chief, Obi Nduka Elunor, in Asaba, Delta State’s capital, for alleged land racketeering and illegal possession of firearms.
When DSS agents attacked the Obi’s palace in Anwai on Thursday evening, they detained roughly seven of Elunor’s men, while others escaped and went into the bush.
It was learned that throughout the hours-long operation, the operatives discovered firearms and other incriminating things at the palace.
According to a source aware with the raid, Elunor was arrested in response to a petition submitted against him by some members of his community regarding “land grabbing” in Ugwu-Nwosu territory, which is located near Asaba, the state capital.
“The DSS invited Obi Elunor to their office. As the Obi went to the DSS office, personnel of the operatives, numbering over 20, invaded the Obi’s palace.
“AK-47 rifles and other things were recovered from the place; some of his men were arrested while others escaped.
“The DSS visited Asagba palace on the issue, but Asagba said he did not send Obi Elunor.
“I am aware that Obi Nduka Elunor had, in times past, evicted some suspected IPOB members who used the land as their hideout during operations, and he mounted a board with an inscription ‘Asagba of Asaba’ on the said land, all in a bid to scare people away from the land,” the source narrated.
Meanwhile, a top civil servant in the state, who did not want his name to be mentioned, said he was not allowed to take the suspect on bail when he met DSS officials on Friday evening as they claimed the matter was still being investigated.
“I don’t actually know anything about his arrest, I wanted to see if I could intervene,” he said.
A DSS senior officer, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying Elunor would either be released on bail or the case would be handed over to the police for further investigations.