2 injured as communities dispute over shootings in Delta

Two persons were feared injured on Friday after another round of shootings erupted between Aladja community and Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom in Udu and Warri South-West local government areas of Delta State.

The two neighbours had been on each other’s throats over an age-long boundary dispute defying government intervention even as early morning shootings rented the air on Friday for a reason yet to be ascertained.

The Delta State Police Command, through its spokesperson, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said the command had taken charge of the area.

Each of the communities of different ethnic stocks are claiming that their communities were attacked simultaneously by alleged aggressors.

Youth president of Aladja, Wisdom Onatomre, while speaking on the attack, alleged that assailants from Ogbe-Ijoh started the sporadic shooting from both ends of his community as early as 4:30a.m, causing panic among his people.

“Ogbe-Ijoh is at it again. Both sides have maintained and enjoyed relative peace for some time, but Aladja people were woken up with roaring guns by invading Ogbe-Ijoh people at about 4.30a.m.

“We have a police barricade at the Iwhre, main boundary post, but they attempted shooting their way in through the Grammar School route, and we had only self-help to repel them.”

“We know they had trouble with Agbassa people in Warri yesterday, but we don’t understand why they decided to compromise the prevailing peace between us to attempt invading Aladja today,” Onatomre said.

On the part of Ogbe-Ijoh, Chief Monday Keme, one of the leaders, alleged that his community had been under attacks by assailants from Aladja community from as early as 5:45a.m.

He added that two persons; a policeman and a pastor, were among those who sustained injuries.

“About 5:45a.m was when our people started hearing gunshots. Our neighbours, Aladja made attempt to attack.”

“Even as I am talking to you now, I am still hearing gunshots and one Mobile Policeman stationed by the Roundabout when entering Ogbe-Ijoh as you are entering the community has been wounded.”

“The wounded police is Sgt Ikouwel Nsikhe of the 51 Mobile Police Station, Oghara. Also wounded is Pastor Clement Pina. Many others have been wounded.”

“Probably in the later hours we would be able to give a clear picture of the impact.”

“As I speak with you now, there is still heavy exchange going on between the two communities, but it was Aladja that came to attack this morning.”

“Nobody can tell what is going to happen in the next few hours,” Keme averred.

He, however, flayed the Delta State government over its seeming inability to settle the lingering crisis once and for all.

“Whatever happens, the Delta State government, led by Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, should be held responsible.”

This crisis has been lingering for many years and any responsible government should have no excuse resolving the issues.

“There is a law since 1955 setting boundaries for both communities. All that is needed is for government of uphold that law.

Since that time government have consistent net maintained that law, so what now stopped Governor Okowa from maintaining that law?

Okowa is a big disappointment to both communities. This is a governor who gathered all Ijaws and Urhobo traditional rulers at the Unity Hall, on 15 December 2016 where he said the state was going to acquire a buffer zone, 289 hectares between both communities.

Up till now, he has not been able to clear the place”, he disclosed.