Ex-Delta APC Treasurer Accuses Ughelli North Chairman Jaro Egbo of Leading Brutal Attack

By Jason Oghenevieze

A former Delta State Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Edewor Akpedafe, has accused the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Chief Jaro Egbo, of leading a violent attack on him during a meeting convened to resolve a disputed oil well boundary.

Akpedafe, who is also the Secretary-General of Uwheru Kingdom, made the allegation while speaking from his hospital bed at Central Hospital, Ughelli, on Tuesday night.

He claimed that the incident began at the residence of Olorogun Miller Uloho, Chairman of the Ughelli North Local Government Advisory Committee, where representatives of Evwreni Kingdom (Unenurhie) and Uwheru Kingdom had gathered for a peace meeting over the boundary dispute.

According to him, five representatives from each clan were selected to participate in the meeting.

He said the situation became tense after Chief Hon. MacPherson Igbedi introduced himself as the President-General of Uwheru.

Akpedafe said he objected to the description, insisting that Igbedi was not the recognised President-General of Uwheru.

“I said no, that he was not the President-General of Uwheru. That was my only observation,” he recalled.

He alleged that Igbedi subsequently walked out of the meeting and made telephone calls, after which two mobile policemen allegedly attached to the local government chairman, alongside Egbo’s Chief Security Officer, identified as Mr. Jumbo, arrived.

Akpedafe claimed the men attempted to forcibly remove him from the meeting.

“They started manhandling me. I asked what my offence was. They said the council chairman asked them to bring me,” he alleged.

He said his resistance to being taken away sparked further protests from some members of the advisory committee, who questioned why Egbo would order his removal from a meeting being held at Uloho’s residence.

The former APC chieftain alleged that shortly afterwards, Egbo arrived at the scene in a convoy of three Sienna vehicles accompanied by about 50 men.

According to him, the council chairman allegedly confronted him physically.

“Jaro Egbo came with three Sienna vehicles and about 50 thugs. He and MacPherson immediately came down, and Egbo landed the first punch on me. His thugs all joined in beating me,” he alleged.

Akpedafe further alleged that he was bundled into a Hilux vehicle and taken towards the local government secretariat, claiming that the two mobile policemen continued assaulting him with gun butts during the journey.

He said the alleged attack intensified when they reached the secretariat.

“Jaro said they should burst my head. They used all sorts on me, including planks and blocks,” he claimed.

The former APC treasurer said the alleged assault left him with injuries to several parts of his body and affected his ability to walk.

“I can’t even walk properly now. An X-ray showed my waist was dislocated,” he said.

Akpedafe also alleged that the incident had a political undertone, claiming that Egbo allegedly threatened supporters of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege during the confrontation.

“Egbo said anybody supporting Omo-Agege, he will kill—the person will not survive,” he alleged.

He further claimed that the council chairman was recording the incident while allegedly warning that anyone working with Omo-Agege would face a similar fate.

The allegations have introduced a political dimension into the longstanding dispute over the leadership of Uwheru Kingdom.

Akpedafe maintained that the controversy over the position of President-General of Uwheru is already before the courts, with matters reportedly pending at both the High Court and Magistrate Court.

He also said traditional rulers in Urhobo land had intervened in an effort to prevent the dispute from escalating.

According to him, the alleged attack was connected to efforts to install Igbedi as President-General of Uwheru despite opposition from some members of the kingdom.

“Their intention is to kill me. He wants to impose MacPherson as President-General of Uwheru at all cost against the wish of Uwheru people,” he alleged.

Recounting the aftermath of the alleged assault, Akpedafe said he was left on the ground after sustaining serious injuries.

“After beating me, they used me to lie on bare floor and forced me to face the sun while I was in a pool of my blood. Only Egbo was doing the videoing,” he alleged.

He appealed to the Delta State Government and security agencies to intervene urgently, warning that the disagreement could trigger a wider crisis in Uwheru.

“I am calling on the government to come to the aid of Uwheru. Jaro Egbo and MacPherson want to cause a crisis in Uwheru, and they want to kill me,” he said.

Akpedafe disclosed that the Area Commander of the Ughelli Area Command, after seeing his condition, directed that he be taken immediately to Central Hospital, Ughelli, where he is receiving treatment.

As of press time, he remained hospitalised, reportedly nursing injuries to his head, waist and other parts of his body.

Efforts to obtain reactions from Egbo and Igbedi were unsuccessful as of press time.

The police authorities have also not publicly addressed the allegations, particularly the claim that mobile policemen allegedly attached to the local government chairman participated in the assault.

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