– There was shooting spree in two Delta communities of Aladja and Ogbe Ijoh in Udu and Warri south west council areas on Friday morning
– Reports say hoodlums from Ogbe-Ijoh invaded Aladja with sporadic shootings sending residents packing and running for safety
– There has been a long standing boundary dispute between the two communities which has defied all entreaties from the state government
Police and soldiers have taken over Delta communities of Aladja in Udu local government area and Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri south west council area following the resumed gun battle between both communities over protracted boundary dispute.
The long standing crisis between the communities in Delta state spilled out of proportion on Friday morning with sporadic shootings, a development which sent residents scampering for safety at the early hours of Friday.
The land dispute which has been the major crisis between both communities has disrupted economic activities in affected areas as farmlands and residential areas have been destroyed by the warring factions from both communities in the state.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has tried all means to settle the rift between the two communities but there seems to be no solution in sight
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state has waded into the crisis on several occasions with visits to the communities and even attempted sanctioning the community chiefs if they fail to curtail the excesses of their subjects but the youths who are the front runners in the crisis are unwilling to sheath their swords and give way for peace to reign.
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The governor has also set up different committees to investigate the crisis and proffer solution but there seems to be no way out following the non-yielding attitude of residents from the warring communities.
Despite all these efforts by the state government to quell the vexed issue between these two communities, fierce battle is still going on in this war torn area of the state.
The issue has been boundary dispute which has torn the communities, taken many lives and brought low their economic activities. There is perpetual fear in the communities over unannounced invasion of youths from the rival camps to unleash terror on the other.
Interventions by police authorities have proved abortive as the people have continuously rebuffed moves by the police and army to quell the uprising in the area. This is even as police stations were razed down in the area.
Several clashes between the two communities have left scores dead and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the unfolding rage. It has been a protracted civil war between the two communities as brotherliness has been thrown into the trash can.
Soldiers, police storm Delta communities as warring factions go on shooting spree
Even community executives and traditional rulers have not been helpful in the entire scenario. They have even been involved in fueling the crisis that has engulfed the area of the state. They have been reported to have supported their youths in the rage to pour venom on the opposing side just for the sake of a parcel of land standing between the two communities.
However, there seemed to be some level of fragile peace over a few weeks but at the early hours of Friday, June 2, sporadic gunshots were heard from both communities as ZENITHBLOG.com learnt that suspected militants allegedly invaded Aladja at about 6am, shooting everyone on sight.
The development, ZENITHBLOG.com learnt, led to residents running and seeking for safety. Many were said to have fled through the waterways to Pessu and other surrounding communities in the area. Several people were said to have been injured, though no one was confirmed dead as at the time of filing this report.
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An indigene of Aladja community, Comrade Igjitegwuolor Bezi, confirmed the shooting to Daily Post saying: “Ogbe-Ijoh people came to attack us at about 6am this morning. It is this fight that may have spilled over to Warri because some of our people escaped through the river to Warri and others were injured.”
Contacted, the Warri Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Mohammed Shaba said: “I have not gotten the facts but I have detailed the DPO of that area to go and send me the report. So, you can call the DPO and get some more facts.”
The Chairman of Warri south local government area, Mofe Matthew Edema, said: “Soldiers and policemen are there now,” just as he called for peace among the warring factions.
Watch this ZENITHBLOG.com video where Acting President Osinbajo speaks on the need for unity in Nigeria
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