The One Order Gang, based in Spanish Town, has long been associated with acts of violence—ranging from extortion to drug trafficking—and a dramatic pattern of leadership changes. The group’s top figures rarely hold sway for long; their control is often lost either to gun battles, police raids, or prison sentences.
The latest chapter in this ongoing saga involves Othniel “Thickman” Lobban, whose leadership ended abruptly on a Wednesday night when he was fatally shot in what authorities described as an armed confrontation in the Six Miles area of St Andrew. His death sent shockwaves across Spanish Town, highlighting a perennial truth about One Order’s upper ranks: no one remains in charge for very long.
Origins of a Rivalry
For nearly two decades, One Order has clashed with the infamous Klansman gang over control of illegal revenue streams, particularly extortion in and around Spanish Town. These clashes have contributed to a soaring murder rate, leaving residents caught in the crossfire of relentless gang violence.
Despite multiple police and military operations, One Order continues to wield influence in sections of St Catherine and beyond. Local experts trace the gang’s power to its deep roots in certain communities and its political alliances, which reportedly include ties to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Klansman, in contrast, has traditionally been viewed as supportive of the People’s National Party (PNP). This political undercurrent has further fueled hostilities, as each gang jockeys for dominance in an ongoing turf war.
A Roll Call of Fallen Leaders
1. Oliver “Bubba” Smith
In 2004, gunmen struck on Festival Road in the Whitehall Avenue area of St Andrew, fatally shooting Oliver “Bubba” Smith. Smith was a key player in One Order’s extortion and drug enterprises, and his death came amid a flurry of criminal allegations against him, including murder. Police who responded to the scene seized the car he was driving and later discovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a rented upscale property linked to him.
2. Andrew “Bun Man” Hope
Following Smith’s demise, Andrew “Bun Man” Hope emerged as the next dominant figure within One Order. His tenure, however, was short-lived. Hope was killed in February 2006 near the Spanish Town High School by attackers wearing khaki uniforms, a brazen act that triggered unrest. In the immediate aftermath, gang members blocked roads, opened fire in sections of the town, and even targeted the Spanish Town courthouse. Rumors swirled that the police were responsible, but no concrete evidence surfaced to confirm any official involvement.
3. Rohan “Placka” Hope
With “Bun Man” gone, Rohan “Placka” Hope—his younger brother—took the reins. Before he could solidify his hold in Jamaica, he was ensnared in a joint investigation by Jamaican and U.S. law enforcement. By 2015, Hope faced multiple charges in the United States, including lying about his citizenship and aggravated identity theft. A search of his home in Pennsylvania led to the discovery of firearms, drugs, and falsified identification documents. Eventually, he was sentenced to five years in a U.S. prison, effectively sidelining him from day-to-day leadership. Two other notable One Order figures, Everton “Rado” Minott and Richard “Ryda” Shelley, were also convicted of serious offenses during this crackdown.
Influence from Afar and a Local Successor
Even with leaders incarcerated overseas, One Order has historically managed to orchestrate its operations in Jamaica through local proxies. After Rohan Hope’s imprisonment, the gang reportedly appointed a home-based don to handle extortion rings and other illicit ventures.
Around this period, the mantle passed to Fitzroy “Scuffler” Mathias, a man who eluded lasting legal consequences despite being arrested on gun charges in previous years. Positioned as a savvy strategist, Mathias not only led One Order but also forged working relationships across partisan lines—including figures from the Klansman breakaway faction—to solidify extortion networks and mutual protection deals.
A Sudden Loss and Fresh Tensions
Mathias’s death from an illness in early 2024 opened a power vacuum that was quickly filled by Othniel “Thickman” Lobban. Lobban is believed to have held sway in multiple parishes, illustrating how One Order’s influence isn’t confined to St Catherine. Reports indicate that despite his relatively short stint at the helm, Lobban developed alliances that broadened the gang’s capacity to collect extortion payments and move contraband. His killing in St Andrew, however, underscored how ephemeral leadership roles can be within such a volatile network.
Shortly before Lobban’s death, a brewing internal feud reportedly reached the streets of North Philadelphia, with a suspected dispute between “Placka” Hope (recently out of prison) and another One Order faction leader known as “Rotu.” Although stray bullets there left a man in critical condition, Jamaican police say the conflict has yet to spill back into Spanish Town.
The Ongoing Struggle for Control
The continuing cycle of arrests, killings, and internal power struggles underscores the deep-rooted volatility of One Order. Splinter groups have sprung up in various communities, forcing law enforcement agencies to adapt strategies repeatedly. Even after nearly two decades, the group maintains a foothold in neighborhoods such as Tawes Pen, Ellerslie Pen, Gordon Pen, Shelter Rock, and Homestead.
Spanish Town itself has been a key battleground, witnessing some of Jamaica’s highest homicide rates at the height of the gang war. Notorious incidents from 2003, when 130 killings were linked to these conflicts, still loom large in the public memory. For local residents, the question remains whether the latest police interventions and leadership void will weaken One Order or merely open the door for another aspiring don.
