Ajube who is also the Ibepiriseikumoh of Ijaw Ibe in Ese-Ode local government area of Ondo state, in a Press Statement made available to newsmen, called on the military and other security operatives to tackle the growing killings and criminal activities of MK’s gang.
Ajube said “I have watched in awe the deliberate twisting and misrepresentation of the facts with regards to this matter. Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) is been deliberately glorified and tagged ‘a militant leader’ whereas he is a known criminal whose records are there in the public domain.
“Someone who is responsible for the killing of 13 persons including 5 government security operatives within a space of one month should not be treated with kid’s gloves and must be addressed properly.
“The murder of Government Security Operatives and Local Vigilante is a strategy to instil fear on our people so that they will succumb to his (MK) criminal agenda unchallenged.
“The reading public should know that what is happening in the riverine area of Edo and Delta State is a pure criminal activity of a gang trying to assert themselves to expand their stock in trade and not rivalry of different groups as intended by the various reports in circulation.
“I wish to state that the activities of this criminal gang led by Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) can only be crushed by a well-planned military operations. The creek like other land operations has its own peculiar challenges and successful operations will require the support of the locals.
“I therefore call on the Egbema Peacekeepers and all well-meaning sons and daughters of the region to continue giving their support to Government Security Agencies in their bid to clear our communities of all criminal vices,” Ajube said.
Below is the full text of Ajube’s press statement;
THE GRUESOME MURDER OF LOCAL VIGILANTES IN EGBEMA KINGDOM OF WARRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE BY A CRIMINAL GANG LED BY MR KUTU MONE (AKA MK) AND THE DELIBERATE MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS BY PERSONS WHO SEEK TO CASH IN ON THE INSECURITY IN THE NIGER DELTA.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT MR. KUTU MONE (MK)
Mr Kutu Mone (alias MK) was a member of the once dreaded and decimated criminal gang led by the now demised O.C Ibori who terrorized Lagos, Ogun, Edo and the southern part of Ondo state with his kidnapping, bunkering and armed robbery activities between 2014-2017.
Along with some others, he accepted the Ondo State Government amnesty program in 2017 but continued violence thereafter.
With collaborators from Edo state, this criminal network accounts for a large portion of all kidnapping and armed robbery cases in the entire Southern parts of Ondo, Edo and Delta States and environs including parts of Lagos and Ogun states.
Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) who hails from Asere in Arogbo Kingdom of Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State returned to his community in November 2019 from Epe area of Lagos after his hideout in Epe was burnt down by men of the Nigerian Police IGP-IRT who during that operation released a kidnapped female NYSC member.
Upon returning to his community, MK recruited people of like mind and sent them forth to cause mayhem on the unsuspecting public. He carried out armed robbery, kidnapping, sea piracy from his hideout and his effect was felt across the Southern part of Ondo, Edo and Delta States respectively.
It took the combined force of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Gallery Security Services Ltd (a private guard company) to destroy his hideout in Asere on the 4th of December, 2020. During that operations MK narrowly escaped arrest however, two kidnap victims were released, live arms and ammunition recovered and one of his gang members was arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Police, Ondo State Command.
Prior to destruction of his hideout in Asere area of Ondo State, Mr Kutu Mone alongside his gang members were involved in the following under listed criminal activities:
The killing of 9 police men in Arepo area of Ogun State in June 2014
Murder of DSS operatives in Ikorodu area of Lagos state in 2015 Lekki and Ikorodu bank robberies in 2015 and Festac and Agbara robberies in 2016 Kidnap of a Female National Youth Service Corps member in Ibeju Lekki in November, 2019.
Kidnap of Teachers and students of Turkish International School Epe, Lagos on Friday 13th, 2017
Kidnap of Students of Boys Model School Igbonla, Ogun State on Thursday 25th May, 2017.
Attack of marine police station at Akotogbo, Ondo State and stealing of Gunboat and other Arms and Ammunition on 26th September, 2020.
Killing of a Nigerian Soldier in Okomu in Ovia South West Area of Edo State on 24th October, 2020 and his rifle taken away.
Kidnap of Engr. Imole and Capt. JJ. Both kidnapped from their tug boat on 29th October, 2020 around Koko, Delta State
MR KUTU MONE (AKA MK) AND THE GROWING RATE OF INSECURITY IN THE RIVERINE COMMUNITIES OF EDO & DELTA STATES
After his criminal hideout in Asere, Ondo State was destroyed on the 4th December 2020, MK went underground for a few weeks only to continue his stock in trade deep inside the creeks of Egbema Kingdom. Egbema Kingdom spans through Edo and Delta states.
He was first sighted around the creeks of Ologbo in Ikopba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State from where he carried out various kidnaping activities including the Kidnap of Five Staffs of Presco Oil Nig. Plc on the 25th of February 2021 and released them after collecting ransom.
After the Presco Nig. Ltd kidnap, he moved deeper into the creeks and now operates from his hideout inside the creeks of Abigborodo River in Warri North Local Government area of Delta State.
Since his appearance in the creeks of Edo and Delta States in February 2021, Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) can be linked to the following crimes:
The Kidnap of Five staffs of Presco Oil Nig. Ltd on 25th February, 2021
Attack on Asere and Otuokubo communities in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo state on Saturday 3rd April, 2021claiming that it is their punishment for divulging their hideout to Gallery Security Services Ltd who in turn brought in government security agencies to chase them out.
June 2021 Attack on Azama Zion community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state killing one and two others sustaining various degrees of injuries.
Attack and killing of Five Soldiers of the Joint Military Task Force in Obodo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on the 3rd of July, 2021.
Attack and killing of six vigilantes of the Egbema peace keeping outfit who were unarmed and carrying out a routine surveillance of the area on Wednesday 14th July, 2021.
MURDER OF SIX MEMBERS OF EGBEMA VIGILANTE (PEACE KEEPERS OUTFIT)
Egbema Peacekeepers / Vigilante is a Delta State youth empowerment initiative which is aimed at engaging youths for security and surveillance services within the Egbema Kingdom.
This outfit works in collaboration with Government Security Agencies by reporting crimes and situations that may lead to the breakdown of law and order.
While on routine patrol a gang of dare devil criminals led by Mr. Kutu Mone who had previously killed Five Soldiers laid ambush, attacked and killed six members of the local vigilante on the 14th July 2021.
These are young men who despite all odds made themselves available to support the government in providing security for our people. We mourn their loss and we pray that the peace the fought for will be achieved in no distant time and their murders brought to justice.
DELIBERATE MISREPRESENTATION OF THE FACTS OF THE MATTER:
I have watched in awe the deliberate twisting and misrepresentation of the facts with regards to this matter. Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) is being deliberately glorified and tagged ‘a militant leader’ whereas he is a known criminal whose records are there in the public domain.
Someone who is responsible for the killing of 13 persons including 5 government security operatives within a space of one month should not be treated with kid’s gloves and must be addressed properly.
The murder of Government Security Operatives and Local Vigilante is a strategy to instil fear on our people so that they will succumb to his (MK) criminal agenda unchallenged. The reading public should know that what is happening in the riverine area of Edo and Delta State is a pure criminal activity of a gang trying to assert themselves to expand their stock in trade and not rivalry of different groups as intended by the various reports in circulation.
CONCLUSION
I wish to state that the activities of this criminal gang led by Mr Kutu Mone (aka MK) can only be crushed by a well-planned military operations. The creek like other land operations has its own peculiar challenges and successful operations will require the support of the locals.
I therefore call on the Egbema Peacekeepers and all well-meaning sons and daughters of the region to continue giving their support to Government Security Agencies in their bid to clear our communities of all criminal vices.
May God grant eternal rest to all those how have died while trying to give us a safer Nigeria.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
High Chief Bibopere Ajube
Ibepiriseikumoh of Ijaw Ibe
