Like ‘Vampire’ of Owerri, ‘lord Ben the great’ of Eleme met his waterloo

Like Henry Chibueze, who was addressed as “Vampire,” who had terrorised all of Imo State, the South East and South-South states, with his bestial kidnapping and armed robbery activities, but who was gunned down on March 1, in Omanwa, Ikwerre LGA, Rivers State, it was the turn of Benjamin Obele Nwogu, alias lord Ben the great, whose criminal activities kept the industrial city of Eleme in fear. Residents in the oil & gas industrial booming local government area of Rivers State, can now heave a sigh of relief. Nwogu fell after a long hunt by security operatives.

Before his fall last week, the young man in his early 30s was a notable terrorist, with his youthful members, who “reigned supreme” over the socio-economic landspace of Eleme; often challenging the might of security apparatus in the land with effrontery. Their stock in trade was broad day light robbery of people of their money and other valuables. Their targets were market women, provisions shop-owners and other innocent business members of the public.

On 5 March, 2017, a combined team of security operatives raided his Alesa base in Eleme LGA of the state. It was an inescapable trap that ended the ‘reign’ of Ben the great and his gang who had held sway in Eleme. On that Saturday 5 March, 2017, the criminal lord bowed to the superior firepower of bullets from the Army, in a broad daylight. One of his loyal aids was set ablaze with his motorcycle, in the public glare in Alesa community.

He largely terrorised traders in the environs and those who come from neighboring communities like Onne, Okrika, Ogbigbo and the Ogoni axis who throng the Eleme ultramodern market on Saturdays.  Of course, he and his gang had had several encounters in recent times with the Police in Eleme, including Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS); but would always escape because of his acclaimed ‘strong protective charms’ (juju) against bullet penetration.  He was said to be known in Eleme Police Division, the state Police command at Moscow Road, Zone 2 Area command Bori and other security operatives.

A cross-section of residents of Eleme, who knew his antecedents, spoke with BDSUNDAY saying: “We have witnessed a number of times when Police engaged Ben the great and his gang in open shootout to arrest him, but all Police bullets rained on him ended like sand on his body. But now, only God arrested him, because of people’s prayers.” 

According to an inside source, Ben and his gang raided the Eleme ultramodern market in the early hours of the Saturday, extorting money and other valuables like bottled hot drinks he loaded into a wheelbarrow, from traders.

The Executive Assistant (ED) to the Caretaker Committee (CTC) chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Roberts Ogosu, who confirmed the incident on behalf of the chairman, Obari Ollormatte, said some persons made a distress call to the chairman on that market day, saying that Ben and his gang were raiding the place. The ED said, the CTC chairman made requests from the Eleme Police division and the Government House.

By afternoon, when the criminal and his group appeared again, and this was when they met stiff confrontation from a combined team of Army and Police. Firing ensued. He and his guys replied. They couldn’t withstand the heat; he took off on a motorcycle, aided by one of his loyalists to his Alesa home base, but a team of soldiers gave him a hot chase. He attempted to jump over a fence, but was overwhelmed by a hail of bullets, which rained on him ceaselessly. He died instantly. His aide was not allowed to escape either, as he was set ablaze with his motorcycle near a church in Alesa by some youths.

News of lord Ben’s end filtered into Eleme communities. There was wild jubilation from market women, shop-owners and residents. Some chanted, “his juju don fail him, God is great.” Similar celebration was in Owerri days back when ‘Vampire’ fell.

Some residents close to the person of Ben Nwogu described him as a charming young man, who exuded benign and charismatic nature, often looking like one who could not harm an ant. But behind that simple mien was a dreaded character who kills and maims with reckless abandon.

Ben the great was said to have met with prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin of Christ Mercy Land Deliverance, Warri, Delta State, where deliverance was conducted on him; and was warned by the bishop not to go back to his devilish and criminal acts, else death would knock when he least expected it. Accordingly, Ben made an advertorial of public declaration in a local weekly newspaper, on 2 March, 2017, where he declared: “I hereby formally and officially denounce my membership from secret cult. The Rivers State government, Eleme Local Government authority and general public should please take note.” But, like they say, old habits die hard, he went back to his evil trade. He met his waterloo only three days after.