There is palpable tension in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Udu and Warri Southwest council areas of Delta State respectively following heavy shootings around the disputed boundary.
The lingering dispute has claimed many with destruction of properties running into several millions according to reports.
Sunday’s shootings come on the heels of the death of an Ogbe-Ijoh indigene and Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Sylvester Yerinbide, alleged to have been severely tortured by assailants from Aladja on October 29, on his way for a vigil.
The people of Aladja have since denied being responsible for Yerinbide’s death.
Following the incident, there have been threats and counter threats of retaliation as well as repeated calls to the Delta State Government and security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.
Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom in a statement last Wednesday, accused the Delta State Government of playing politics with the issue, demanding a lasting solution to the boundary dispute.
However, Sunday’s attack was allegedly carried out by Ogbe-Ijoh youths, who reportedly invaded Aladja community, shooting sporadically.
Though details of the attack are still sketchy, unconfirmed reports claimed that one person have been shot and another abducted.
Speaking with The Nation, President-General of Aladja community, Elder Otto Ogbiruveta, confirmed the shootings, alleging that his community was invaded by youths from Ogbe-Ijoh around 2pm.
He stated that he had to put a call across to the military, who quickly deployed men to the hot spot.
“It is true, there was a gun battle. Ogbe-Ijoh people came to attack Aladja this afternoon. I had to call the Major, OC in charge of this area. They have mobilized to the place.
“They saw the Ogbe-Ijoh boys armed at the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Road. They tried to get them to leave. Then came Mopol guarding the checkpoint along the road where there too,” the Aladja PG said.
Asked if any person from the community was shot or abducted, he said giving the tensed situation “I cannot confirm if anybody was shot or abducted at the moment”.
But a community leader in Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom, Chief Monday Keme, said that the shootings started at about 2:00a.m on Sunday.
According to him, youths from Aladja community shot into the home of an INEC officer, Sunday night and the bullet holes have been captured by security operatives.
He accused the people of Aladja of carrying out similar operations in the past leading to the destruction of buildings of Ogbe-Ijoh people at the disputed border area.
“Yesterday, around 2am they shot into somebody’s house, he is the Chief Security Officer of INEC. Security personnel on ground heard of the shooting and went after them, they ran away.
“Around 11:30am, they came in their numbers to attack and conventional security people on ground battled with them. Ogbe-Ijoh people have never gone there to attack. It is their people coming to attack Ogbe-Ijoh on daily basis,” he said.
Keme insisted that there was no invasion of Aladja community by his kinsmen on Sunday afternoon.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, who was contacted through a text message, confirmed the incident but added that while normalcy has been restored.
He said he was not aware of the number of casualties.
(The Nation)
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