By Mick Oseji, Asaba
Tension has heightened in the charged atmosphere of Ute-Okpu Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State as town’s acting under the aegis of Ute-Okpu National Youths Association (UNYA) stepped up measures stopping the funeral of late Sir Chamberlain Dunkwu, who was until his death, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Legislative matters) to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Honourable Tajudeen Abbas.
The Daily Crucible had earlier reported on Sunday that Sir Chamberlain Nnamdi Dunkwu, President of Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), died on March 7, 2026, day a swimming young talent discovery competition, tagged “Swim to the future,” was scheduled to commence inside package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
Dunkwu, generally regarded as a passionate advocate for aquatic sports development, was known for his tireless commitment to nurturing young talents and repositioning swimming and other water sports in Nigeria as in his life time , the late politician’s leadership brought renewed energy to the NAqF, with initiatives aimed at grassroots development, athlete support, and stronger institutional partnerships, according to the leadership of the NAqF.
His final rites of passage which began Thursday, April 16, 2026 with service of songs at St. Matthew Church, Maitama, Abuja, was to be followed by another round of service of songs scheduled for April 23, 2026 at the deceased’s residence at Ibiegwa Quarters Ute – Okpu, Delta State, where the remains were to be interred on Friday, April 24, 2026 immediately after a funeral service at St. Luke’s Anglican Church within the community.
However, in a bewildering twist of fate and what many deemed as disrespectful to the dead, the town’s youths stormed the late Dunkwu’s country home, sacked workers preparing his final resting place and covered the grave with already dug out red mud, citing violations of both customary traditions and legal procedures governing funerals in the community.
Earlier on Saturday, April 18, the UNYA had through a strongly worded press statement, declared that it had taken “decisive and lawful steps” to stop the process of burial of late Dunkwu.
Not done yet, the youths also summoned his widow, Lady Joy Dunkwu, to appear before the palace on or before Monday(tomorrow) in compliance with community mandatory procedures, even as they demanded the full autopsy report of the late NAqF in the interest of transparency and accountability.
According to the group, the action followed credible reports that certain individuals were attempting to carry out burial rites without obtaining the necessary approvals from relevant family authorities and community leadership structures.
The youths maintained that burial practices in Ute-Okpu are deeply rooted in tradition and must be strictly adhered to, warning that any attempt to sidestep these norms could spark unrest and undermine communal harmony.
“Our intervention was not arbitrary,” the statement read. “It was guided by long-standing customs and the need to preserve order, respect for lineage, and due process.”
Sources within the community revealed that disagreements over the deceased’s lineage and burial rights had been brewing for days, with factions laying competing claims. The situation escalated when one group allegedly moved to proceed with the burial in defiance of ongoing consultations.
UNYA emphasized that its actions were also backed by legal considerations, noting that unauthorized burials could trigger disputes with far-reaching consequences, including litigation and breakdown of peace.
The association called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and submit to established dispute resolution mechanisms, including engagement with traditional rulers and elders.
As of the time of filing this report, the burial had been put on hold, with efforts underway to resolve the impasse through dialogue.
Community leaders are expected to convene an emergency meeting to address the dispute and chart a path forward, as residents watch closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to a conflict that has exposed deep cracks within the kingdom. 
