It was a war-like scene on Tuesday as Ogbe-Ijaw in
Warri Southwest council area engaged their neighbour community, Aladja in Udu,
both local government areas in Delta State in a fierce gun battle that lasted for
more than four hours.
At the end of the crisis, one person was reportedly
killed and 18 others sustained gunshot injuries with most of the victims rushed
to Warri Central hospital for treatment.
It was gathered that mobile policemen stationed at
a buffer zone to make peace in the two communities that have been in an age-long
communal crisis over ownership of a parcel of land, fled the scene as a result
of heavy weapons, including AK 47 rifles, deployed by the combatants.
One of the injured was said to be a Senior
Secondary School 1 student who was caught in the cross fire between the armed
youths from both communities. The clash was reportedly occasioned by the
lingering boundary dispute between both communities.
The incident, It was learnt, led to panic in both
communities as residents scampered for safety during the exchange of gunfire
which lasted for over four hours before security operatives were brought in to
put the situation under control.
Although it was not clear what led to Tuesday's attack, both communities were also engaged in verbal attacks as
Aladja claimed that Ogbe-Ijoh first launched on her community with
sophisticated and dangerous weapons, including traditional charms.
Ogbe-Ijoh, on the other hand, claimed that Aladja
youths were first to invade their community with shootings which left three
persons, including an SS1 student identified as Prosper Derin, severely injured
following the report that council workers were about to resume works months
after the crisis started in the area.
Aladja Community Youth Leader, Wisdom Onatomre,
alleged that youths from Ogbe-Ijoh launched the attack on his community at
about 7:30a.m., adding that one Reuben Ilolo was killed in the process.
Onatomre added that they were woken up from sleep
by gunshots from the Ogbe-Ijoh end of the community, saying before they could repel
them, one person had been killed and 15 others critically injured.
According to him, “One person has been killed as we
speak. His name is Reuben Ilolo, and over 15 persons have been injured with gunshot
wounds. The armed Ogbe-Ijoh youths entered Aladja with sophisticated and
dangerous weapons through the Ogbe-Ijoh end of the Aladja.
“They also planted some charms on the ground, and
started the attack as we were caught unawares.”
But Ogbe-Ijoh Community Youth Leader, Friday
Deinghan, faulted Aladja community’s claims, saying Aladja, an Urhobo community
of Udu, was first to attack their community which led to three persons being
injured.
“Since the last time Aladja community held a press
briefing calling on the federal and state governments to relocate the
headquarters of Warri South West from Ogbe-Ijoh, Aladja people do not want
council workers to resume work.
“They started shooting into our community since
last week Friday all through Sunday upon hearing that workers wanted to resume
work. They have been shooting since 7:30a.m. into Ogbe-Ijoh just to scare
workers.
“Three people have been injured, including One
Prosper Derin, an SS1 student, who was hit by a stray bullet on his way to school.
He is currently receiving treatment at a clinic after reporting the matter to
the Police at the Warri Area Commander’s office. As we speak, they are still
exchanging gunshots.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew
Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent, confirmed the resumption of hostility, but promised
that security operatives have been deployed in the area to calm the situation.
“There is inter-communal conflict between Ogbe-Ijoh
and Aladja, and our men are doing their best to end the conflict,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment