By Chuks Onuoha.
Mutu Mone, alias MK, a suspected Pirate leader and “several” members of his gang, have been reportedly killed in the deep creeks of Abigborodo, Warri North council area of Delta state.
He was said to have been killed in a gun duel with a combined team of security operatives and ex-militants known as Creek Dragon.
It was learnt that the suspect, who hails from Ajapa community in Ondo State, was behind kidnapping and killings on Delta waterways for about a year now.
It was further learnt that intensive manhunt for his capture began after the killing of four Egbema youths, on a Peace mission, working with Niger Delta ex-warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, late June.
MK was also said to be responsible for the killing of some soldiers, and carting away of their gunboats and weapons in July.
After the incident, he was reported to have fled the state, but returned about three weeks ago to continue terrorizing the Delta/Ondo waterways.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s senior security aide, Comrade Ezekiel Daniel, who confirmed the death of the suspect said that an intelligence reports led to the ambush that brought about his killing in Abigborodo creeks, “near Gbaramatu kingdom”.
He said that he got an intelligence report two months ago that MK was making plans to return.
“I passed the report across to security agencies and everybody laid ambush awaiting his arrival. About two weeks ago, he carried out an attack on some Civil Defense personnel, killed them (somewhere called Lagos Junction in Delta creeks) and went away.
According to him, “Last week Friday, a group of ex-militants called Creek Dragons, with security agencies, invaded MK’s hideout at a place called Abigborodo, deep inside a creek in Warri Southwest.
“They were able to overpower him and he retreated into a deep part of the creek. But the two entrances were blocked, so he won’t be able to escape. Last night (wee hours of Monday), MK and his boys came out to take on the operatives and Creek Dragons, were overpowered and he was killed,” Daniel said.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa thanked God for his support in ensuring that the criminal gang was neutralized. END
