The governor had, on Wednesday in Warri, met with leaders of both communities and top security agents with a promise to implement the white paper being processed by the committee inaugurated by the governor.
Leaders from both communities as well as Gbaramatu kingdom all promised the governor to maintain the peace pending the outcome of the white paper.
But barely 24 hours after the stakeholders’ meeting and oath to maintain the peace, the two warring communities went after each other’s throats, maiming scores and destroying houses on both sides.
Tribune Online gathered that the renewed hostility, which began at about 5:00am on Thursday, allegedly left in its wake, five people injured, four houses burnt and scores of women and children taking refuge in the mangrove forest.
Calm was restored at about 1:00pm when scores of security agents were despatched to the troubled communities to complement effort of those already on ground.
Sporadic gunshots on both sides as well as from the navy said to be on peace mission rented the air during the hostility that lasted for over five hours.
Some youth leaders from both communities, who spoke to Tribune Online accused each other’s community of being the aggressor.
Chief Monday Keme, an Ogbe Ijoh youth leader, accused Aladja of drawing the first blood before his colleagues retaliated.
He alleged the early morning invasion of his community by Aladja youths, adding that three persons were injured.
Keme also alleged that he suspected the destruction of the Egbesu Shrine in the community by the invading youths from Aladja.
Wisdom Onatomre, a youth leader from Aladja, however, told Tribune Online that two youths were injured and four houses burnt in his community by Ogbe Ijoh youths.
“The Ogbe-Ijoh people came to wake us up this morning at about 5:00a.m with an attack; they have even burnt four houses, ” he added, arguing that the Ogbe Ijoh youths drew the first blood.
As of the time of filing this report, a heavy presence of a potpourri of security agents has forced normalcy into the area.
But scores of children and women were said to be taking cover in the mangrove swamp owing to the sporadic shootings allegedly from naval personnel who were alleged to be taking side with Aladja people who are Urhobos.
National president of the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI), Comrade Austin Ozobo and his counterpart in Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRACC), Cleric Alaowei Esq accused personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Warri, of backing the Urhobos of Aladja to annihilate the Ogbe Ijohs.
“They came with about five armoured gunboats and started shooting into the community from the waterfront,” Cleric alleged.
Ozobo and Cleric condemned the alleged sporadic shootings of the naval personnel at Ogbe Ijoh in the wake of Thursday attacks, calling on the Chief of Naval Staff to call his men to order.
The duo also called on the state government to show more commitment to resolve the age-long boundary dispute between the two warring communities to avoid a full blown inter communal war.
Reacting to the allegation against the navy, a senior naval officer, who pleaded anonymity because he’s not authorized to speak on the matter, refuted the claim, noting that the naval personnel were strictly guided to keep the peace in the area of their responsibility.
Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka, who was contacted, simply said: “I’m in a noisy environment. I can’t hear you. ”
and then