The lawmaker representing Delta Central senatorial district in the Senate, Senator Ede Dafinone, has called on the people of Aladja in Udu and Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West Local Government Areas of Delta State to embrace over the lingering boundary between both communities.
Dafinone also called on security agents deployed to quench the renewed hostility in the area to remain professional while trying to maintain peace and protect lives and properties of the people.
The Delta Central lawmaker spoke when he led a delegation to Aladja town in Udu Kingdom on a fact-finding visit to ascertain the level of destruction as a result of the renewed crisis which resulted in the killing of one person.
Aladja, an Urhobo community in Udu council, has been having running battle over a disputed boundary with their neighbouring Ogbe-Ijoh, an Ijaw community in Warri South West, which has claimed lives and crumbled socio-economic activities on both sides.
Speaking during the delegation visit, Dafinone, represented by Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor Esq., said he was in the community to ascertain the level of damage as well as to call for peace between two neighbouring communities.
Bodjor noted that, “So much damage has been done, so many lives upended. But amid the ruins, we also saw resilience. Families helping one another, coming together in the face of adversity.”
It was learned that recent hostilities resulted in the death of a 40-year-old man, Efe America, with several others sustaining injuries.
Some victims, while recounting their ordeal, alleged that some of the destructions were orchestrated by men in military uniform, who were allegedly enforcing the curfew imposed by the state government.
A victim, Godwin Akporido, said: “They destroyed our windows and some other things, while the patients inside the clinic, including me, ran away.”
The brother of the late Efe America, who also met with the delegation, said his brother was killed while trying to defend the community.
“My brother was shot by Ogbe-Ijoh people while trying to defend the community. He is survived by two children,” he said.
After being briefed by the 1st Vice President General of Aladja community, Prof. Lucky Igben and other leaders of the community on recent development which claimed the life of an indigene, the delegation went round the communities to ascertain the level of destruction.
