By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
Following the quit notice handed Aladja community by Ogbe-Ijoh community, the former has urged the latter to accede to a traditional means of settling the age-long boundary land dispute in order to avert further bloodshed and destruction of property.
Chairman and Secretary General of a group in Aladja, Comrades Kingsley Krokele and Ejovbo Ashe made the plea in a statement reacting to the quit notice issued by Ogbe-Ijoh to Aladja recently over the disputed boundary land.
It will be recalled that the two neighbouring communities of Urhobo and Ijaw stocks have been on each other’s throats with accompanying wanton destruction of lives and property for over 10 years over a boundary dispute which has defied all attempts of resolution.
In the statement made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday, the Aladja community said rather than allowing more loss of lives and property, the Ogbe-Ijoh should agree to settling the crisis through age-long traditional means as earlier suggested by HRM Barr. E. B. O Delekpe, Owhoru 1, Ovie of Udu Kingdom.
“If Ogbe-Ijoh continues to claim ownership of the land, then they must submit themselves to the suggestion of our King; HRM Barr. E. B. O Delekpe, Owhoru 1, Ovie of Udu Kingdom that we go on the traditional way where the two kings and some leaders from both communities would pack the sand from the so-called disputed land and put in a cup and drink poured on it.
“Then prayers and curses be made on it and drunk by the two kings and community leaders.
“And let’s see if they can survive it. The land would then destroy the community telling lies against the other,” the Aladja leadership enthused.
Reacting further to the quit notice issued by Ogbe-Ijoh community of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Aladja community of Udu Local Government Area of the state said it was not afraid to match the Ijaw strength for strength if the latter made good their threat.
“This is the ranting of rabid idiots. If Ogbe-Ijoh thinks that because they came to attack Aladja on the 21st of November, 2021 and went away freely and that they had been given a blank check by their Ijaw brothers they want to bank on that to think they have the monopoly of violence, they should have a rethink.
“Aladja is not afraid of the Ijaws and that the vengeance they crave against Aladja for the 1995/96 defeat will lead to their total annihilation if they dare attack Aladja, again.
“Even though we are not happy with the distorted way the boundary demarcation is going, we have decided to take our fate as it is.
“We have decided to give the two Local Government Chairmen; Jite Brown and Taiye Duke Tuoyo, the necessary support to allow peace reign.
“But Ogbe-Ijoh, the squatters on our land, must stop their acts of intimidation and allow peace to reign.
“We, the Aladja people, are fearless peace-lovers, but will not hesitate to defend our lives and properties if they are being threatened,” they warned.
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