When he was posted to Naval Outpost, Onitsha, few years ago, the last thing that crept into his mind was to become a respected traditional title holder in Ogwu-Ikpele Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

However, with crumbling internal security within the area, especially relentless attacks on an oil facility owned by Sterling Global Oil Exploration, Navy Lieutenant Godwin Oscar Sampson was deployed with his men, not only to restore order and ensure lives and properties of the community were safe.

Expectedly, they met a hostile atmosphere but resorted to other instrumentality in peace building operation to penetrate and win the hearts of the warring groups and restore modicum of security.

However, some recalcitrant elements who were bent on instigating more conflicts sustained the attack with illegal weapons, aiming at the community elders in particular.

Therefore, the officer and his men had to bring the criminals to subjection within the ambits of the law.

Lt Sampson (retd) told our correspondent at Ogbaru that shortly after they were deployed to the community, they provided protection as the community were vulnerable to constant threat and harassment.

“Due to enormous insecurities they were faced with and our ability to repel the miscreants, they became friendly with the understanding that one way to win the battle is to win the minds and hearts of people.”

Encountering the miscreants

Becoming the Eze-Udo 1, King of Peace in Ogwu-Ikpele community wasn’t a fluke. The honour was borne out of hard work and inert ability to bring enduring peace, and clear every undesirable element from the community.

No sooner than they were deployed, intelligence gathering revealed that the enemy were among the community dwellers.

It was learnt that the community was tormented by a former Councillor and Vice Chairman in Ogbaru LGA, who recently was appointed as the President General of the Community.

According to reports obtained, Mr. Sunday Madupue, in cahoots with his two sons, unleashed a reign of terror on the community simply because he wanted to control the soul of the community.

“He later turned his gun against the community and used moneys met for security of lives and property to purchase two AK 47 rifles, some pistols and ammunition as well as a cache of charms,” Lt Sampson remarked.

Investigation revealed that Madupue with the assistance of the two children brutalized three elders of the community, whose ages were between 75 to 90 years old over a little altercation involving the handing over of OFFOR title to the most eldest in the community until a king is selected.

As a result of the beating, Navy Lt Sampson (retd) explained, the villagers became infuriated and wanted to stone them (Madupue and two children) to death in their house.

“Swiftly, we had to take him into custody to forestall extrajudicial killing that could have escalated the fragile peace.

“After the arrest, we discovered that one of his sons had a necklace with a pendant made from an empty shell of an expended ammunition. That got us curious and began to profile them, which led us to carry out a search in their house that night,” he explained.

“To there chagrin, we recovered two empty magazines of AK 47 rifle, one pistol and 17 rounds of 7.6m live ammunition.”

Not satisfied, the following morning, the naval personnel began the search and made additional recovery of a locally made pistol with three cartridges.

However, since they hadn’t the prosecutorial powers, they handed them to other security agencies after Mr. Sunday Madupue had confessed he bought two AK 47 rifles in order to fight war against the community.

Emphasizing some modest achievements which culminated in granting him the title, Retired Navy Lt Sampson disclosed that they also settled several skirmishes that could have pitted one community against another. With express authorization from the naval headquarters, the officer and his men were able to settle those squabbles.

Besides, one particular case, he alluded to that cannot be forgotten was the arrest of some thieves that vandalized three transformers and other government facilities. “We got two of the vandals arrested and handed them over to the police including Sunday Madupue and the two sons for prosecution.”

However, while in detention Mr. Sunday was said to have mobilized advance party to attack the community, our reporter was hinted. Luckily, the suspects were picked up and handed over for prosecution. It was learnt that singular efforts brought about the restoration of peace to the community while the naval personnel were still there.

“As a result of these successes, the community in their wisdom bestowed on me the title of Eze-Udo 1 of the community – King of peace. I have been issued a certificate to help me function in that role effectively,” he said.

Community Reacts

Some residents of Ogwu-Ikpele who bared their minds expressed joy and satisfaction to the Nigerian Navy for their support at degrading the capabilities of organised criminal gangs that held the community hostage.

They also appreciated the upscaling of the quality of lives and security in the community.

According to the Deputy Youth President, Mr Ben Bulus, who spoke with our correspondent said “the granting of the title to Navy Lt Godwin Oscar Sampson (retd) was a collective agreement of Uduoaku and his Chiefs in Council. Until today, we are still loving him because he has relieved the community of pains they have gone through for some several years in the hands of Mr Sunday Madupue and his children.

The title is to show our appreciation to Navy Lt Sampson, for playing a neutral role to broker peace. He helped where necessary and God used him to clean our tears, sanitize the community and ushered peace.

Elaborating on how Sunday Madupue and his family members terrorised the community, he explained that before he was eventually arrested, the notorious Mr Sunday and his two children burst oil company’s pipe with relentless ease, beats up elders. He used his position to intimidate and torment people and became untouchable even by the police.

“It is a miracle that God used Navy Lt Sampson and the Nigerian Navy to liberate the community from the grips of criminal gangs. We are happy about it and the title of Eze-Udo 1, is a mark of our appreciation. He was here for three to four months and achieved what Napoleon Bonaparte could not do,” he reiterated.

Navy Lieutenant Godwin Oscar Samson (retired), enlisted into the Nigerian Navy 25 years ago as a Rating and rose to the rank of a Navy Lieutenant before he retired from the service on the 26th May, 2025 after meritorious service.

During his years in service, he was in the Information unit and had worked at the Western Naval Command, Apapa as well as other Commands across the country.

This piece is contributed by Okosun Dennis