Delta Decides

Two Arraigned In Warri Over Alleged ‘Deve’ Demand from Property Developer

Two young men were on Monday, April 13, arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Warri, Delta State, over alleged unlawful demand for payment of development fee popularly known as “deve” from a property developer, Pastor Fred Aghedo.

The suspects, Mr. Irikefe Ajueyitsi and Mr. Abubakar Nasiru, were brought before Chief Magistrate E. M. Sowho at Magistrate Court One, Warri, on a two-count charge bordering on illegal demand and breach of peace.

Prosecuting Counsel from the Uvwie Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force, ASP Dicko Wakama, told the court that the accused persons, alongside others still at large, committed the offence on March 12, 2026, at 3rd Marine Quarter Road, Warri.

He alleged that the defendants demanded “deve” from Pastor Aghedo in relation to construction activities on his property.

According to the prosecution, the act contravenes Section 13(1) of the Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Law, 2018, and is punishable under Section 13(2) of the same law.

ASP Wakama further informed the court that the accused persons also engaged in conduct likely to cause a breach of peace by creating nuisance on the said property. The offence, he noted, is punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap C21, Volume 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Sowho granted bail to the accused persons and adjourned the case to May 20, 2026, for hearing.

Narrating his ordeal, Pastor Aghedo told the court that the suspects and others allegedly stopped him and a tractor he had hired for land development at the site, insisting that work could not proceed unless he paid the demanded “deve.”

He said the incident prompted him to file a petition with the police.

The arraignment comes amid a renewed crackdown on illegal levies in Delta State, following the state government’s directive that anyone cought demanding “deve” from property developers should be arrested and prosecuted.

Troops arrest teenage iswap logistics courier in ngamdu, link suspect to Jilli strikes

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested a 15-year-old suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics courier in Ngamdu, Borno, linking him to recent terrorist attacks and ongoing military airstrikes on insurgent enclaves in the Jilli axis.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, identified as Tijjani, was apprehended on Sunday while allegedly attempting to procure logistics for insurgent fighters operating within the Ngamdu–Benisheik corridor.

According to the sources, the suspect confessed during preliminary interrogation that he participated in the attacks on Benisheik and Ngamdu carried out on Thursday.

“My name is Tijjani, I am 15 years old. I was arrested today in Ngamdu. I was among the terrorists that attacked Benisheik and Ngamdu,” the source quoted him as saying.

He reportedly disclosed that the group mobilised from Jilli, a known insurgent stronghold in Gubio Local Government Area, before executing the attacks and subsequently returned to the enclave.

“Before the attack we came from Jilli and returned there after the attack,” he said.

The suspect further revealed that he was redeployed from Jilli on Saturday with the sum of N850,000 to procure supplies for other fighters.

“I was sent from Jilli yesterday with N850,000 to collect some logistics from Ngamdu, but I was arrested by troops,” he reportedly stated.

He added that he left behind other fighters at the Jilli enclave but could not confirm their fate following the recent military airstrikes on the area.

“I left my colleagues at Jilli yesterday. I don’t know what has happened to them there,” he said.

Military sources said the arrest of the suspect provides further insight into the operational and logistics network of ISWAP within the region, particularly the central role of Jilli as a staging ground and supply hub.