Profiling Nigeria's Notorious Armed Robbers: (Okwudili Ndiwe aka Derico)
Isaac Dachen | 09:47 | 27.11.2015
Today, we profile Derico Nwamama, one of the deadliest armed robbers to have come out of the Nigeria.
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In the early 2000s, 22-year-old Okwudili Ndiwe also known as Derico Nwamama, was probably the King of the Underworld » in the Eastern parts of the country; a clear replication of the likes of Lawrence Anini and Ishola Oyenusi .
Derico had risen from a street urchin and pick pocket to a dreaded crime king » and the mere mention of his name sent shivers down the spines of traders and residents of Onitsha, the commercial capital of Anambra State, and other parts of the east.
The traders could not display their wares with peace while many slept with one eyes open. Derico sacked commercial banks in Onitsha, carting away millions of naira. Travelers who had to pass through the state held their breathes, expecting the hoodlum to strike at anytime. The then Governor of the state, Chinwoke Mbadinuju , became an old man over night with worries on how to handle the menace of Derico.
Read: "Laying Bare: Profiling Nigeria's Notorious Armed Robbers: (Lawrence Anini)" »
He was described as the personification of terror. From Nnewi to Nkpor, from the villages in Umuleri to towns in Ihiala, the old and young were terrified at the mere whisper of Derico Nwamama.
At that time, he was said to be invisible and could not be arrested. The dreaded Bakassi Boys went on a manhunt for the man known to kill without batting an eyelid.
Members of Derico's gang
According to legend, Derico Nwamama had killed over 100 people including 25 police officers whose lives he mercilessly wasted. He was a master of countless bus robberies and will not blink twice before pumping his hot lead bullets into the beating hearts of hapless victims.
And after his successful raids, he would boast and declare himself invincible. Derico seemed to have placed a lot of faith and confidence in the charms prepared for him by the traditional witchdoctors.
How it all started
According to legend, Derico Nwamama had a very interesting modus operandi and although he terrorized the entire south east, he was not based there as his base was Abuja, the Federal Capital territory and only visited the east from time to time to strike with maximum terror.
Read: "Laying Bare: Profiling Nigeria's Notorious Armed Robbers: (Abiodun Egunjobi aka Godogodo)" »
And after raining a torrent of bullets and gunfire upon the hapless and ill-equipped officers of the Nigerian Police and defenceless Nigerians, he would speed back to his safe haven, with his loot, safe on the laps of power, luxury and comfort.
At a period, Derico used the town of Umuleri as his hideout. Then from there, he would issue threatening messages to the police that they will pay for killing members of his gang. He also maintained bases in other towns like Agbor, Benin and Asaba.
Gov Mbadinuju congratulating the Bakassi Boys
He spared no one
Even members of his gang and close friends who crossed him were mowed down by the bandit. One of such was another hoodlum called
Chiejina , who was from Aguleri, also in Anambra State.
Before Derico came to prominence, Chiejina was described as the deadliest armed robber in the whole of Anambra State. The centre of his lethal operations was Onitsha. Derico’s father too was from Aguleri and in no time, the paths of the two met and they became very good friends and colleagues in the armed robbery business.
However, their friendship would not last for long as bloody arguments soon broke out between the two of them over the scope and nature of executing their operations. Both of them were at the peak of their strengths and they were equally feared all over the region.
Some ammunitions recovered from Derico
But the lethality of Derico would soon prove too toxic for Chiejina. During a violent argument over their mode of operation and leadership, Derico blasted Chiejina to an early grave with a volley of bullets. After the death of Chiejina, Derico became the undisputed emperor of terror in the land.
The hunt for the deadly Derico
Governor Mbadinuju was not the only one worried about the reign of terror perpetrated by Derico Nwamama as even President Olusegun Obasanjo was enraged that the criminal was left to unleash terror in a part of Nigeria.
The police were helpless and had lost many men to the dreaded bandit and seemed at wits end on what to do to bring him and his gang to book.
In May 2001, the Anambra State Police Command launched the Operation Derico which was aimed at capturing Derico and his gang members at all cost.
Read: "Laying Bare: Profiling Nigeria's Notorious Armed Robbers: ('Doctor' Ishola Oyenusi)" »
The police managed to arrest some of Derico's men but he was still elusive as he kept operating with reckless abandon, robbing, killing and kidnapping innocent Nigerians.

Bakassi Boys to the rescue
With the police and other security forces unable to bring Derico Nwamama and his terror regime to a close, the onus fell on the Bakassi Boys, the militant wing of the Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS), a local vigilante group set up to curb crime and criminality in the Sout East.
The group were then at the forefront of the hunt and capture of Derico Nwamama and on Tuesday, July 3, 2001, the hitherto invisible criminal was nabbed on his way to Onitsha from Agbor, ostensibly on one of his crime spree.
The news of his capture and 'triumphant' entry to Onitsha was like a wild fire as the town erupted in joy amidst wild cheers.
As was their trademark, the Bakassi Boys drove in a motorcade around the town, displaying their prized possession, brandishing their machetes, dane guns and charms, to the admiration of thge people who knew that the end of their fearful existence had ended.
They trooped into the city to catch a glimpse of the man who had turned their lives into a nightmare.
The Nigerian Police requested that Derico be handed over to them so they could continue with the investigation and eventual prosecution but the Bakassi Boys simply ignored the request.
They would handle the matter their way and that was instant justice for a man who had tormented the people long enough. They also did not trust the police to do justice to him.
The end of Derico
For a man who thought he was above the law and could not be captured, Derico met his end in the most awful manner. Before then, the Bakassi Boys had developed a terrible and blood chilling reputation for dealing with suspects and Derico's days were surely numbered from when he was caught.
On July 9, 2001, six days after Derico was captured at the Niger Bridge, the Bakassi Boys did to him what many had earlier predicted. Chanting war songs, they drove in their convoy around the town and ended at the Ochanja Market Junction along the popular Upper Iweka Road in Onitsha.
As their buses came to a halt, shouts of excitement and expectation rented the air. Many knew the fate that would befall Derico, so they all trooped to the spot to witness the final judgement on him.
Derico was dragged out from the bus, looking gaunt and severely beaten, a trademark of the vigilante group. His body bore cuts and gashes, a testament to what he must have gone through in their hands. he must also have known that the day of reckoning has come.
He was in obvious pains but no one seemed to care. Still chanting war songs and egged on by the enchanted crowd, one of the commanders of the Bakassi Boys named Okpompi, addressed the crowd, telling them they were in the state not for politics but to fight crime.
Bakassi Boys strong man, Okpompi
He handed over the microphone to the now trembling Derico who, like a cornered fox, began begging for his life to be spared. He made feeble attempts at declaring his innocence:
“My name is Oddy, alias Derico, alias Nwa Mama. I appeal to you the people of Anambra State, please don’t kill me, I don’t like evil. It was when I killed Chiejina that people thought I am a strong guy, you know.
I trust Bakassi Boys. They are strong. Please, mercy for me. Nobody can identify me as having robbed him. People just believe that I am a strong guy.”
He confessed that while he was on the run, he was sheltered by a member of the National Assembly in Abuja. He also confessed that he had two other powerful protectors, one being a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly while the other was the chairman of a local government council.
What was to follow remains one of the most macabre displays of public executions in Nigeria. With the speed of a guillotine, a cutlass handled in the strong arm of one of the Bakassi Boys flew and came down with an unforgiving thud, landing on Derico’s slim neck. In a flash, Derico was beheaded.
His severed head rolled on the floor before the crowd while his convulsing body collapsed on the ground, with bright-red blood gushing from his carotid arteries. It was like a sacrifice to the gods had just taken place.
The crowd was satisfied and as far as the Bakassi Boys were concerned, that was a clear lesson and message to any criminal bent on making life miserable for the Anambrarians.
With the lifeless remains of Derico still lying on the floor, the people erupted in jubilation, patting one another on the backs and exchanging mutual congratulations after a monstrously grotesque show of iron and blood. That was not the end.
Razor-sharp machetes flew from different directions and chopped his pitiful remains into sizable chunks. Derico’s mangled remains were heaped up, properly rinsed with fuel and set on fire.

Make I read am finish, before I comment

first time am hearing about this guy but his story reminds of old nollywood movies like isakaba,Jericho and some others I can't remember their names.
And you say dis guy was only 22 that is to say he was a young achiever, I admire his courage, Anini the second

stories like this are perfect with pictures.

Chiejina did worst....

I watched d film in those days. Emeka ike played the lead with hanks anuku. They made odeshi popular. I don't even no what that means.

It shows no one is invisible

GBADEYZ:
first time am hearing about this guy but his story reminds of old nollywood movies like isakaba,Jericho and some others I can't remember their names.
And you say dis guy was only 22 that is to say he was a young achiever, I admire his courage, Anini the second

Yea, Derico, acted by Emeka Ike. Also, movies like Issakaba, Ashes 2 Ashes...how time flies

Deri nwa mama, dene!!!.but I heard he never operated around his hood(onitsha) and that waz why he had issues with chiejina because chiejina was doing so...evil doesn't pay be good!
The movie called "END OF THE RIVER" is all about Deri and his Life.

Derico was very brutal doing his days.. The guy terrorised onitsha like no other and he posses a powerful charm that can make him appear and disappear. I was like 9 the time he was caught by bakassi boys with one of his ear chopped off and everybody was jubilating in onitsha. Deli brutal cuz doing his time Onitsha never sleep and thanks to the government cuz crime is at minimum to compare bloody onitsha in the eyes of adam

That was when leaving in Anambra was hot now everything had calmed down

No pictures of him?

Those Anambra Vigilante guys are dreaded o! I went for a burial ceremony of the father of a relative sometime this year at Orlu and the vigilante guys were hired to guard the event. Nna, come and see good looking guys displaying double-barrel guns.

Ujo biakwara m o!

I knew this guy personally, his family his house, his poor mother they used to share their loots behind our house in onitsha (ime ogbe) meehn that guy na terrorist those days but he operates outside and will even end up catching and flogging those petty thieves operating inside the town telling them to man up and rob outside and stop local ime ogbe robbing

those days God punish you if you stay outside after 6pm people where made to sleep in the church because people like chiejina will send you letter notifying you of their glorious coming lol you will just have to respect yourself and keep enough money for them or... I knew some of their victims including one popular titled man (ozo) man.

meehn onitsha was really a jungle those days and they really brought bad reputation to cool headed onitsha guy like me because people sees us as kinda tough, bully and arrogant people

Thanks to bakassi boys chaii it was a gory scene to behold then both him (derico) and that of Eddy na Nawgu at the same ochanga round about that round about don drink blood tire because those days you'll be seeing beheaded corpses of criminals every day littered all over onitsha.

bakassi boys tried but they later got compromised and their charm later neutralized and bullet started penetrating them that was when they started working for the devilish Mbadinuju as open assassins killing many innocent people including a barrister and wife. they were later disbanded.



cc
Lalasticlala obinoscopy Seun mynd44

Beremx:
No pictures of him?

Those Anambra Vigilante guys are dreaded o! I went for a burial ceremony of the father of a relative sometime this year at Orlu and the vigilante guys were hired to guard the event. Nna, come and see good looking guys displaying double-barrel guns.

Ujo biakwara m o!

read my posts

the funny thing about these guys are if you suddenly jam ( pass suddenly) them sharing their loots mainly raw cash in bundles they'll just trow a bundle to you saying words like this "nwanne m oo nee ya gholu" meaning "my brother catch it"

meehn money was nothing to those guys eee

that was when my street was a war zone, guns where like toys. chaii you'll see someone brandishing a pistol and live cartridge like it's noting
but Derico na away guy i dey do

one guy just use am dey do business those day renting pistol to those minor okada (motorcycle) thieves every adolescent boy then was a potential arm robber or a messenger or arm robber informant

Thank God say my father na pastor so those days my innocence no be here

opiaoku:
I knew this guy personally, his family his house, his poor mother they used to share their loots behind our house in onitsha (ime ogbe) meehn that guy na terrorist those days but he operates outside and will even end up catching and flogging those petty thieves operating inside the town telling them to man up and rob outside and stop local ime ogbe robbing

those days God punish you if you stay outside after 6pm people where made to sleep in the church because people like chiejina will send you letter notifying you of their glorious coming lol you will just have to respect yourself and keep enough money for them or... I knew some of their victims including one popular titled man (ozo) man.

meehn onitsha was really a jungle those days and they really brought bad reputation to cool headed onitsha guy like me because people sees us as kinda tough, bully and arrogant people

Thanks to bakassi boys chaii it was a gory scene to behold then both him (derico) and that of Eddy na Nawgu at the same ochanga round about that round about don drink blood tire because those days you'll be seeing beheaded corpses of criminals every day littered all over onitsha.

bakassi boys tried but they later got compromised and their charm later neutralized and bullet started penetrating them that was when they started working for the devilish Mbadinuju as open assassins killing many innocent people including a barrister and wife. they were later disbanded.



cc
Lalasticlala obinoscopy Seun mynd44

... Na so ebe, you na konfam nwa otu

Bakassi, Isakaba and Co.
Movies that made me like Hanks Anuku.

ZZ22:
... Na so ebe, you na konfam nwa otu

born breed street cool headed guy but i chew badly when necessary.

Thank God I no corrupt

The Guy is even from the east, a Biafra for that matter
Chai...

captainflash:
The Guy is even from the east, a Biafra for that matter

Chai...

Otu nne i ebea

mazzi:
Deri nwa mama, dene!!!.but I heard he never operated around his hood(onitsha) and that waz why he had issues with chiejina because chiejina was doing so...evil doesn't pay be good!
The movie called "END OF THE RIVER" is all about Deri and his Life.

HOW ABOUT AGBUSI NA UKPO

warripekin:
I watched d film in those days. Emeka ike played the lead with hanks anuku. They made odeshi popular. I don't even no what that means.

Odeshi is a contraction of the Igbo O dighi eshi meaning that it doesn't leak!!
This means that when you're cut with a sword or shot with a gun,your body wouldn't leak(bleed)

On a side note na only part 3&4 of Issakaba wey I don watch...I still dey find part 1&2

Ibos with thieving

opiaoku:


born breed street cool headed guy but i chew badly when necessary.

Thank God I no corrupt

... Lol most young blood as of then na street wise... Which secondary school did you attend

EdCure:
Ibos with thieving

HEY BROWNIE WHAT THE PHUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE

the funny thing about these guys are if you suddenly jam ( pass suddenly) them sharing their loots mainly raw cash in bundles they'll just trow a bundle to you saying words like this "nwanne m oo nee ya gholu" meaning "my brother catch it"

meehn money was nothing to those guys eee

that was when my street was a war zone, guns where like toys. chaii you'll see someone brandishing a pistol and live cartridge like it's noting
but Derico na away guy i dey do

one guy just use am dey do business those day renting pistol to those minor okada (motorcycle) thieves every adolescent boy then was a potential arm robber or a messenger or arm robber informant

Thank God say my father na pastor so those days my innocence no be here

opiaoku:

Otu nne i ebea

Back to sender

ZZ22:
... Lol most young blood as of then na street wise... Which secondary school did you attend

bros no mind the anti spam bot me na confirm dengramite (DMGS)
the funny thing about these guys are if you suddenly jam ( pass suddenly) them sharing their loots mainly raw cash in bundles they'll just trow a bundle to you saying words like this "nwanne m oo nee ya gholu" meaning "my brother catch it"

meehn money was nothing to those guys eee

that was when my street was a war zone, guns where like toys. chaii you'll see someone brandishing a pistol and live cartridge like it's noting
but Derico na away i dey do

one guy just use am dey do business those day renting pistol to those minor okada (motorcycle) thieves every adolescent boy then was a potential arm robber or a messenger or arm robber informant

Thank God say my father na pastor so those days my innocence no be here

ZZ22:
... Lol most young blood as of then na street wise... Which secondary school did you attend

bros no mind the anti sperm bot me na confirm dengramite (DMGS)