EGBUDU-AKAH (Delta State) – A land dispute between one Fidelis Nwanti and a popular Politician and former Councillor in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Anthony Egbuna, has claimed the lives of two persons, even as the purported owner of the parcel of land measuring 200ft by 200 ft, Mr. Fidelis Nwanti is now on the run.

The first casualty of the land dispute is one of the sons of Mr. Anthony Egbuna who was hit by a stray bullet at the site of the disputed parcel of land, while the second victim is Mr. Philip Nwanti, the father of Mr. Fidelis Nwanti who was said to have purchased the parcel of land for his son, Fidelis Nwanti on the 10th of January 2006.

The late Mr. Philip Nwanti, on February 26, 2016 was traced to his residence in Ogbe-Obi Quarters, Egbudu-Akah in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State by unknown gunmen and killed in the pool of his blood.

According to the information available to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, the murdered Philip Nwanti had purchased the said parcel of land for his son, Fidelis on January 10, 2006, who had the intention to build a school but a politician, Mr. Anthony Egbuna, took interest in the land because of its strategic location and made several entreaties to Mr. Philip Nwanti to sell the land to him, to enable him erect a building, but Mr. Philip Nwanti refused.

The NIGERIAN OBSERVER gathered that Mr. Anthony Egbuna went to the extent of bribing some elders in the community to enable him take possession of the land from Mr. Philip Nwanti because he is rich and some of his children are alleged cultists who constantly threatened the Nwantis with gun to leave the land for them.

Due to the constant threats, the Nwantis reported the case to the police and later on January 5, 2016, took the matter to a High Court in Benin City which adjourned the case for some months.

Unfortunately, before the adjourned Court date, Mr. Anthony Egbuna on February 26, 2016, led his children and workers to the site of the disputed land to begin to lay foundation for his building.

Our investigation revealed that when the late Mr. Philip Nwanti, Fidelis Nwanti and some of his brothers stormed the site to stop the laying of foundation by Mr. Anthony Egbuna, trouble started as unknown gunmen started to shoot gun sporadically, attempting to kill Fidelis Nwanti and his family members who escaped unhurt, but stray bullet was said to have hit one of the sons of Mr. Anthony Egbuna who died on the spot.

Enraged, the Egbunas attempted to blame the Nwantis for the death of their son, claiming that the Nwantis brought thugs to shoot their son. Same night, it was gathered, they came looking for Mr. Fidelis Nwanti who could not be found, but they shot at his father, Mr. Philip Nwanti and ran away. Mr. Philip Nwanti died on the way as he was being rushed to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the last has not been heard of the matter as the whereabouts of the purported land owner, Mr. Fidelis Nwanti is unknown as he is said to have fled for his life, for fear of being killed like his father.