kidnapper kingpin Don Waney cult group’s member confesses

The killing of 23 worshippers on New Year day in Omoku was to avenge the arrest and humiliation of the mother of cult gang leader, late Don Waney...A member of the cult group paraded at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday said they carried out the massacre to teach town’s vigilance group a lesson for daring their leader.

32-year old suspect, Mr. Desmond Okotubo, a father of three from Egbenma in Onelga Local Government Area of the state, said they were also irked by the destruction of the property of their leader.

He explained that the plan to carry out the attack on the vigilance group was hatched in Owerri, Imo State.

He said they did not plan to attack worshippers on the cross over day, but somehow the operation just went wrong.

The suspect, has promised to help government fish out the rest of the members of the gang.

He explained that he did not know if their late leader was being used by some politicians to cause trouble in the state.

“It was Don Waney that did it. We followed Don Wanny and he has a group that he gave gun to shoot called Red Squad.

“I did not hold any gun and I don’t know about it but he has a group called Red Squad.

“The Red Squad members are from Imo and Rivers states and they are the ones that shoot and kill.

“I know those that shot and killed those people. I know many people that belong to the party.’

Along with his gang, Don Waney, real name Igwedibia Johnson, masterminded the New Year killing in Omuku, Rivers State. Children were among the 23 people killed in cold blood.

He was killed on Saturday by a joint force of Nigeria’s security agencies in Enugu.

The outgoing General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj.- Gen. Enobong Udoh, paraded the corpses and arms and ammunition of the deceased gang members on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

He said security agencies, complying with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, trailed Don Waney and his gang members to their hideouts in Enugu.

“We are happy to inform that Don Waney, a notorious cultist, kidnap kingpin and mass murderer who masterminded the murder of 23 worshippers returning from cross over service is dead.

“We traced Waney and some of his gang members to their hideout in Enugu town where they rented apartment and lived with other people in the neighbourhood like normal people.

“The criminals were killed after a combined team of troops of 82 Division Army, Enugu and personnel of Department of State Security (DSS) raided his hideout to arrest him and his members,” he said.

Udoh said the criminals on sighting the advance of security operatives to their residence attempted to escape through the back door of the apartment, but were shot by troops.

He said others shot dead were Waney’s second-in-command, Ikechukwu Adiele, and another suspected gang member, Lucky Ode.

“One of them died on the spot while the other two who sustained gunshot wounds eventually died on their way to the hospital.