By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
LEADERS of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Udu and Warri South West local government areas of Delta State have agreed to cease fire.
The truce was reached on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Government House Annex, DBS Edjeba in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
Stonix News had reported that one person, Frank Amakiri, was killed last Friday in a renewed boundary land dispute before security agents were drafted to the scene.
At a tripartite meeting among leaders of Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh and the Delta State Police Command, the two warring communities agreed to sheathe their swords.
They also agreed at the peace and security meeting that anyone caught breaching the peace of the area should, henceforth, be dealt with, accordingly.
Representatives of the two communities included Chief CC Whisky, Comrade Shell Okakota Godfruit and Chief Otto Ogbiru Vetah for Aladja; and Chief Anthony Jolomi, Hon. Deribofa Oweikpodor and Chief Lucky Oromoni for Ogbe-Ijoh.
Representing the Delta State Police Command at the meeting were the divisional police officers of Ogbe-Ijoh and Uvwie, CSP Aliyu Shaba and SP Kabiru Audu.
At the meeting, it was also agreed that the ongoing boundary demarcation, which ignited the latest communal clash, be put on hold in the meantime.
While the demarcation was postponed for the moment, the communities also agreed to keep the peace with each other after expressing their grievances, adding that anyone caught on the wrong side of the law be dealt with.
Apart from the leaders of the feuding communities, other stakeholders present at the meeting were the Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Police Area Commander Burutu and the representative of the Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun.
The statement read in part:
“Sequel to the recent conflict between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities, a peace and security meeting was held with the two communities and other stakeholders at about 1200 noon on Saturday 17th September 2022 at Government House Annex Edjeba.
“During the meeting, the representatives of both communities were given opportunities to express their grievances.
“Thereafter, it was made clear to them that there was the need to discard all animosities and agree to a truce which they obliged.
“Consequently, the major decisions taken at the end of the meeting were as follows:
“The demarcation of the disputed boundary area between the two communities was to be suspended till further notice.
“The executive governor or a delegation from Delta State Government was to visit the disputed boundary area before recommencement of the demarcation exercise.
“The leaders of the two feuding communities were to desist from threatening each other.
“Additionally, any leader or community member who was found culpable of breaching the truce was to be severely sanctioned in accordance with the law henceforth.
“All arms and ammunition still being harboured in any of the communities were to be voluntarily submitted to the security agencies.”
Though relative peace has returned in the communities, Stonix News gathered that the overall security status is still unpredictably quiet, and to ensure peace, troops of Operation Delta Hawk will continue to patrol the areas.
What's your reaction?
