‘Man of peace’ General Don Waney

Mr. Igwedibia Johnson, aka Don Waney, is a former militant “General”, whos is based in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He is the prime suspect in yesterday’s killings in Rivers State.

In the days of militancy in the Niger Delta, Johnson and his “boys” were deeply involved in pipeline vandalism, sea piracy, kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, thuggery and other forms of criminality, before the 2009 amnesty offer by the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Some years after accepting the Federal Government’s amnesty offer, Johnson returned to militancy. He was again admitted to the 2016 amnesty offer  by the Nyesom Wike administration in Rivers.

Shortly after accepting Wike’s amnesty offer, the ex-militant “General” was on December 20, 2016 conferred with a chieftaincy title of Oyirimba I of Ogbaland by the paramount ruler of Aligwu community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, King C. Nwokocha.

Two of his lieutenants – Ikechukwu Adiela and Augustine Osisiah- were also installed chiefs.

Don Waney promised to fight for the development of the community.

He warned against kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, rape and armed robbery  and urged the youth to join hands in maintaining the peace.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Wike for their efforts in restoring peace to  the Niger Delta.

But following the suspicion that he had returned to his old ways, the army’s 6 Division  invaded his camp and shrines in the early hours of November 20, last year. He fled and has been on the run since then.

During the raid, 10 human skulls and human bones, among other items, were recovered. Seven suspects, including two women, were arrested.

When he was accused of having a hand in the killing of a former council chairman and his son, General Don Waney denied it.

In an interview published by The Punch in January, last year, he defended his character.

General Waney said: “Some days ago, I heard that the former chairman of Omoku CDC and his son, as well as another boy were killed. I felt very bad about it. This is because I have been saying in the media that we need peace in ONELGA. I cannot get myself involved in that.

“I am a peaceful man. As a traditional ruler, I cannot support anybody or groups to take laws into their hands, especially in my zone. I cannot do such things. I am against the killings.

“They (local government area) know the people causing the problem in ONELGA. However, the surviving son of the late former CDC chairman identified one of the killers of his father.

“I have been praying for ONELGA to have peace. Two wrongs cannot make a right,” Eze Johnson further said.

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