Eight persons feared killed in Delta community clashes

Residents seek FG’s, Okowa’s intervention on Erhoike spill
Renewed Communal clashes between Amai/Eziokpor and Umuebu communities in Ukwuani local council area of Delta State, have allegedly claimed the lives of eight persons.

It was learnt that while residents of the communities have fled their homes to neighboring communities, tension had continued in the area.

Checks revealed that the crisis was generated by a boundary dispute, in which Umuebu and Amai communities had laid claims to ownership of the disputed area since 1962/63.

Sources said youths of the communities engaged one another in gun battle that left eight persons dead.

But officers of Obiaruku Police Division, who asked not to be named, said six persons were arrested during the week in connection with the crisis, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Reacting to the incident, the traditional ruler of Umuebu Kingdom told journalists yesterday that the crisis was precipitated by an age-long land dispute where Amai, Eziokpor and Eziomo communities acquired a piece of land in the disputed area for farming.

He however, added the Umuebu people gave out the land to Amai, Eziokpor and Eziomo to cultivate with an understanding to pay rent to Umuebu on an annual basis.

However, that was not to be as the Umuebu people were surprised to see the other communities move into the land and started cultivating it without the consent of the Umuebu elders.

But a native of Amai, Ojugbeli Sunday said the reason behind the yearly crisis between the communities was not unconnected with the boundary demarcation, stressing that if nothing was done about it, the war may continue every year.

Also, the Ezei of Ezeomo Kingdom, Osanwuta Robert lamented the constant crisis in the area, describing it as unparallel in the history of Ukwani.

Chief Press secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr. Charles Amagwu said the state government had taken proactive measures to end all communal crises, adding that anybody who violated the measures would face the law.

Meanwhile, residents of Erhoike Community in Agbon Kingdom, Ethiope local council have sought the federal and Delta state governments intervention over the oil spillage in the community.

President General of the community, Mathew Oyibocha who spoke to newsmen yesterday decried the nefarious activities of some persons who allegedly set fire to the area to enable them claim benefit that would accrue to the community.