Two Persons Feared Dead In Delta Communal Crisis

BEVERLY HILLS, May 06, (THEWILL) – Two persons have been confirmed dead in a communal crisis which erupted on Thursday between Igbide and Okpolo-Enwhe communities in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The crisis which broke out over an age-long land dispute also left many injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

Sources told THEWILL that the warring communities renewed hostility on Thursday after minor disagreement over the disputed land which have caused years of maiming, destruction and killings on both sides.

They added that in the ensuing confrontation, two youths identified as Oghenekaro Ogbo and Okorofa Erobi from Igbide were allegedly killed by youths of Okpolo-Enwhe community who reportedly ambushed them.

The sources revealed that one Edoja also from Igbide was badly macheted and currently lies in a critical condition as the crisis which started early this week over ownership of a piece of land in the area degenerated.

“All efforts by the two leadership of the two communities to find a lasting peace to the aged long dispute has always ended in deadlock. You see, the land dispute has been in court for the past 40 years and several innocent people have lost their lives in the whenever the issue come up,” the sources said.

“This renewed crisis followed an allegation that over 10 armed youths from Okpolo-Enwhe attacked a man that lives close to the disputed land and destroyed his properties including his building thereby forcing him to escape into the bush with his family.

“As the news got to Igbide, some aggrieved youths came out for a revenge and in the process, two Igbide youths were killed while several others were wounded.”

Meanwhile, the Delta State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) who doubles as Chairman of Isoko South LGA, Sir Itiako Constantine Ikpokpo, narrowly escaped death on Friday afternoon as armed youths attacked his convoy on his way to broker peace in the warring communities.

One of the senior council staff who was in the entourage of the Chairman told our correspondent that they were on their way to the warring communities when the official car of the Chairman and others were severely attacked by some armed youths who ambushed the convoy.

“If not God intervention, it would have been another sad story entirely, because it took the grace and intervention of God almighty to save the life of the chairman and his team who were on a peace mission to the community,” he said.

“Some valuables were carted away from the Chairman’s car. But the good thing is that still after the unwarranted attacks on the chairman and his team, the council chairman was able to restore normalcy.

State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident however said the situation was under control adding that three police patrol teams from Ozoro, Otor-Owhe and Ughelli B division have been drafted to the warring communities to forestall any further break down of law and order.

Story by Joe Ogbodu