Alleged Gangster Sacks Enugu Village, Police Blame Residents
Natives of Akpanya Ugwu-Amufie clan in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State are fleeing their homes in droves following alleged molestation and torture being inflicted on them by one Nduka Eke, an indigene of the village.
Some of the victims who spoke with THE WHISTLER on Tuesday alleged that Nduka Eke, in his 30s, has been inflicting injuries on the natives for over three years, and efforts to get him arrested by security operatives have proved abortive.
A relative of one of the victims, who does not want to be mentioned for safety reasons, said, “Nduka Eke, the son of the late Christopher Eke, is mysterious. He has a criminal network. He occupies his father’s house and presides over a big deity. He is a land-grabber. Between February 17th and 25th this year, he attacked the natives around 2am, and maimed over twenty of them. He burnt some people’s houses; inflicted machete cuts on some. Most of the victims ran away for safety. Some are in faraway hospitals receiving treatment.
“A few days ago, security operatives launched attacks on Eke’s house. They didn’t arrest him. They left, and Nduka is back with his boys terrorising anybody around. I have gone to evacuate my relatives to a safe location. Nobody is currently in Akpanya Ugwu except Nduka and his boys.”
How Nduka Turned Into A Terror
“Nduka was notorious as a teenager,” narrates a native. “The pressure of local vigilantes forced him out of the village alongside his cohort. He was said to have relocated to Anambra and joined a gang. He returned about four years later, and probably fortified with whatever means. He began to lay claims to people’s lands. In one of such, he claimed that a certain large portion of a communal land was his grandfather’s property. The matter was taken to the village hall, and he lost. Thereafter, Nduka became a thorn in the flesh of everybody.
“One midnight, he launched attacks on some members of the family whose land he wanted to grab. He also attacked vigilantes opposing him. A retired customs officer, who was the chairman of the security committee then, was attacked. He was in hospital for three months, and was evacuated to Abuja. Nduka attacked vigilante members, and collected a gun from one of them. The gun was later recovered from his house.
“He destabilised the vigilantes and then faced the family. One of them, a retired local government education secretary, was attacked alongside his son. They underwent brain surgeries to drain blood out of their brains before they survived. Over twenty persons have been maimed by this guy in the past three years.”
It was gathered that the fear of Nduka made the owners of the disputed land relinquish the entire land to him. According to a native of the community based in Warri, “That was last year. There was peace, and people returned for Christmas. However, this January, he alleged that his clan’s stakeholders contributed to the death of his father. He then taxed them to raise money for the funeral of his father. He also alleged that his deity was being attacked by witches to make it impotent.
“We thought that having given him the land, peace would prevail. He wants to sack the whole community and create a criminal domain for his boys. Those of us living outside the village fear that if we champion this fight, he would attack our people at home. But it has not helped matters. We want the security operatives to be aware of our plights. Nduka has armed boys and many hideouts. He has even sold much of the land, and has enough money in his pocket to run around.”
An okada rider conveying this reporter refused to go to Akpanya when the destination was disclosed to him. “Nobody lives near Nduka’s house,” he said. “The young man has defied the community. Even the traditional ruler has tried his best. Nduka and his group will beat people to stupor and always go freely. He lives a mysterious life. One Onyi was attacked on 22 September last year, and till date, she has not been back home. Nduka burnt someone’s clothes on 17th February, 2025. He always machetes his victims to near death.”
In a voice note, Nduka, while torturing some women, was heard accusing them of conniving to kill him. He demanded them to mention their accomplices. Sounds of machete-cut were heard, with threats to amputate their legs if they did not mention their accomplices. The women were heard begging him not to kill them.”
An Eyewitness’ Accounts
One William Mbah, an eyewitness, said, “Nduka burnt one woman’s clothes on Monday, February 17th 2025. All her new clothes were burnt. He threatened to kill her, but fortunately she was not around when she struck.
“Another victim is from Akpanya Ugwu-Amufie. Nduka damaged her motorcycle valued at N400, 000. He collected her N40, 000 so that he won’t damage her other property. That was on 22nd September. She managed to run away.
“Nduka attacked another man around 2am. That was on 15th February. He came with two people. He wanted to kill the man, but he managed to jump across his fence. Nduka and his boys burnt a lot of the man’s property, including his places of worship.
“There is another house he attacked, and used cutlass to butcher many occupants which he claimed were conniving with some people to kill him. He will make allegations and force his victims to accept, then he will inflict knife-cuts on them.”
Community leaders keep mum
Onyebu Eze is the head of the vigilante community. When asked to comment, he said, “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything to say.”
The President General of the community, one Chike Onuh, declined to comment, saying “you know it’s a security issue”.
Police React
The Divisional Police Officer of Igboeze North LGA, Mr Simon Akoh, blamed the natives for not providing the police with credible information about the alleged hoodlum.
He said, “I know about him. His other name is Uwanku [used to describe how he butchers people like firewood]. We’ve been looking for him since last year when his matter was reported. The same community told us that they had resolved their differences.
“I’m not aware if he is back or not. Nobody has brought information to us. The natives don’t provide us with information. If anybody has credible information about him, let them come forward.”
The head of Igboeze North LGA neighbourhood watch, Mr Anselm Odo, feigned unaware of Nduka Eke. He however said, “I’ll mobilise my operatives to go there.”
Efforts to interview the council chairman, Mr Uche Ogalla, failed as he did not respond to calls or messages sent to him via his phone number.
THE WHISTLER reports that Igboeze North, where Nduka operates, is the local government of Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala.
Alleged Gangster Sacks Enugu Village, Police Blame Residents is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
