By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
A communal scuffle over tax collection on sand dredging in Igbidi Community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, has claimed one life.
Security agents keeping the peace in the troubled area
The killing happened in the early hours of Monday, according to a scoop made available to Stonix News.
The information suggested that the vice president of one of the two warring leadership factions of the community were going for a settlement in a bus within the community when gunmen opened fire on them.
Amid sketchy details, one of the commuters in the bus was hit and died while the driver, who’s a vice president of one of the two factions claiming rights to the tax collection, escaped with gunshot injuries on his waste.
The injured factional vice president, whose name could not be ascertained, narrated in pains what happened to security agents on a rescue mission.
“I was driving the community bus and we were on our way to Ovwodokpokpo. Getting to Egbo, a group of boys that has been shooting in the community and one Emevona Ekpekpa came out with a gun and started shooting at everyone in the vehicle, killing one of the passengers while I sustained a serious bullet injury on my waist,” he noted.
When asked by the security agents who rescued him what the outcome of a town hall meeting they had to resolve the sand dredging tax collection matter, he said:
“The outcome of the conference was that a task force committee be set up so that we can approach the defaulters that have refused to comply with the agreement before dredging of sand in the community.
“It resulted in some problems since the day before yesterday (Saturday).
“After the intervention of security men, the task force and some of the youths in the community agreed that both sides should sheathe their swords.
“We were trying to come to Dokpo so that we can make the announcement from Dokpo to the town that government is already involved when they attacked us.”
It was, however, gathered that troops of Amphibious Battalion at Oleh had earlier been deployed to the community to restore peace and order the previous day (Sunday) before the Monday attack.
Sources said the conflict might not be unconnected to leadership tussle over sand dredging in the community.
In the scoop from a security officer, “Available information received at about 3.30p.m on Sunday, September 4, by troops of Amphibious Battalion at Oleh revealed there was a fracas between rival groups at Igbide as a result of leadership tussle.
“The troops, in conjunction with the police and other enforcement agencies in the community, immediately conducted a show of force in the area to restore law order.
“Subsequently at about 9:00a.m on Monday 5th September, 2022, further investigation received from one of the factional leaders revealed that his community’s vice president who was riding in a car with another person within the community this morning were shot at by yet-to-be-identified persons.
“The incident led to the death of the passenger while the factional community vice president sustained some injuries, but he’s presently in stable condition.
“On receipt of the report, the troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion at Oleh were again despatched on patrol to the community to link up with the police to de-escalate the tension created while efforts were ongoing to track the unidentified gunman that shot at the duo.
“The commanding officer 181 Amphibious Battalion is also on his way to Igbide community to confirm the situation and assist the police in managing it.”
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the incident, adding that operatives from the command had been deployed in synergy with other security agencies such as soldiers to avert a reprisal.
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