In the early 2000s, Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria faced one of its most violent periods of insecurity. The bustling trading city of Onitsha, known as the commercial heartbeat of the Igbo nation, became a centre of fear and lawlessness. At the centre of this crisis was Okwudili Ndiwe, better known as Derico Nwamama, a young but ruthless armed robber whose short reign of terror shook the state.
At just 22 years old, Derico commanded a gang that carried out high-profile robberies and murders across Onitsha and surrounding towns. His notoriety grew quickly, not just because of his crimes but also due to the failure of the Nigerian Police Force to contain him. His end, however, did not come through a courtroom trial. Instead, it came through the controversial intervention of the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante group that used extrajudicial violence to enforce order.
Early Life and Entry into Crime.
Very little is formally recorded about Derico’s early life. His real name, Okwudili Ndiwe, is documented, but beyond that, much of his background is drawn from oral accounts rather than official records. Claims that he began as a petty pickpocket before rising to armed robbery remain unverified folklore.
What is historically certain is that by the late 1990s, Derico had formed a violent criminal gang in Onitsha, operating within and around the city’s commercial hubs. Onitsha’s Main Market, Ochanja Market, and Upper Iweka axis, with their heavy daily cash flow and bustling transport systems, provided fertile ground for violent gangs. Derico distinguished himself through his reliance on brutality, which set him apart from other robbers of the period.
Escalation of Violence.
By 2000, Derico had become one of the most feared figures in southeastern Nigeria. His gang extended operations beyond Onitsha into Nkpor, Obosi, and Nnewi.
Newspaper reports and police records at the time linked him to multiple killings, including the murders of policemen and civilians. Although rumours and street accounts claimed he killed “over 100” people, no official record verifies such a number. What is indisputable is that his attacks created widespread fear and crippled commercial activity.
Onitsha traders, transporters, and residents lived in a state of anxiety. The once-bustling Upper Iweka, a major gateway for travellers and traders, became notorious for armed robbery and killings. By 2001, the city was regarded as one of Nigeria’s most dangerous commercial centres.
Police Failure and the Rise of Vigilantism.
The inability of the Nigerian Police Force to capture Derico reflected broader institutional weaknesses. Reports from the time highlighted issues of corruption, poor intelligence, and inadequate resources. In some accounts, police officers were alleged to have been compromised by criminals, allowing notorious figures like Derico to operate with impunity.
Public frustration grew as repeated calls for police intervention yielded little. By mid-2001, the insecurity had reached a breaking point. Traders and community leaders demanded alternative solutions, turning to a group that had already gained a reputation for confronting violent criminals in Abia and Anambra States, the Bakassi Boys.
The Bakassi Boys: Fear and Justice Combined.
The Bakassi Boys originated in Aba, Abia State, in the late 1990s as a trader-backed vigilante group. Initially formed to protect markets from armed robbers, they gained notoriety for their extrajudicial tactics. Armed with machetes and locally made weapons, they were known to publicly parade suspects, subject them to beatings, and in many cases, execute them without trial.
Despite condemnation from human rights organisations, the Bakassi Boys were viewed by many communities as more effective than the police. Their entry into Anambra State under Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju marked a turning point in the fight against violent crime.
Capture of Derico.
In July 2001, the Bakassi Boys reportedly captured Derico in Nkpor, near Onitsha. While details of the operation are not extensively documented, multiple newspaper sources confirm that he was apprehended after weeks of pursuit. Unlike the Nigerian police, who often failed to successfully prosecute armed robbers, the Bakassi Boys were known for swift and public punishments.
Execution at Ochanja Market.
On 9 July 2001, just days after his capture, Derico was executed by the Bakassi Boys at Ochanja Market, Onitsha.
Eyewitness reports confirm that he was paraded before a large crowd of traders and residents. Accounts consistently state that he was killed using a machete, though whether he was beheaded or killed by multiple strikes varies by source. Regardless of the exact method, the public nature of the execution was deliberate: it was intended as both punishment and deterrence.
For many residents, the killing brought relief after months of fear. Commercial activity gradually resumed, and traders felt safer moving money and goods across the city. However, the execution also underscored the fragile state of Nigeria’s justice system.
Public Reaction and Human Rights Concerns.
The public response to Derico’s death was mixed. In Onitsha and surrounding towns, many celebrated the end of his reign of terror. Traders who had suffered from repeated robberies saw it as a necessary step towards restoring peace.
On the other hand, human rights groups strongly condemned the execution. Organisations such as Human Rights Watch criticised the Bakassi Boys for operating outside the law and bypassing constitutional guarantees of fair trial. Reports documented that the vigilante group often abused its power, executing not only confirmed criminals but also political opponents and innocent individuals.
Derico’s case thus became emblematic of the double-edged nature of vigilantism: it provided short-term security but undermined the rule of law and created new risks of abuse.
Legacy and Lessons.
The saga of Derico Nwamama left a lasting impact on Anambra State and Nigeria’s security discourse. It highlighted several enduring lessons:
- Institutional Weakness Breeds Criminality – The inability of the Nigerian police to apprehend and prosecute violent criminals allowed Derico to thrive.
- Vigilantism Can Solve and Create Problems – While the Bakassi Boys restored some order, their methods undermined legal institutions.
- Public Security Requires Trust – The episode demonstrated that when citizens lose faith in the state, they may turn to alternative, often dangerous, forms of justice.
Author’s Note.
The story of Okwudili Ndiwe, alias Derico Nwamama, remains one of the most infamous crime sagas in modern Nigerian history. In less than two years, he rose from obscurity to become a symbol of terror in Anambra State. His execution by the Bakassi Boys in July 2001 ended his reign but also exposed the fragile nature of Nigeria’s policing and justice systems.
Derico’s life and death remain a cautionary tale, about crime, governance, and the delicate balance between security and the rule of law.
References:
Okafor, O. (2007). Legitimizing Vigilantism: The Nigerian Experience. Journal of Modern African Studies.
Human Rights Watch (2002). The Bakassi Boys: The Legitimisation of Murder and Torture. Human Rights Watch Report.
Vanguard Newspaper Archives (2001). Coverage of insecurity and Bakassi Boys’ activities in Anambra State.
