By Ovie Okpare
No fewer than four persons were on Thursday feared killed in a boundary dispute between Owahwa and Okwagbe communities of Ughievwen Kingdom of Ughelli South Local Government area of Delta State.
NIGER DELTA TODAY learnt that several houses were also reportedly set ablaze during the counter attacks by both neighbouring communities.
Community sources, who confirmed the incident, said trouble started when youths from both communities engaged in shooting when one of the families laying claim to the disputed boundary mobilized to site.
It was learnt that three indigenes of Okwagbe community were allegedly shot dead in the melee, while an indigene of Owahwa was similarly murdered during the crisis.
One of the victims was simply identified as Faith.
It was gathered that in revenge, youths mobilized and set ablaze houses owned by Owawha indigenes in Okwagbe.
Unconfirmed number of persons were also reportedly injured from the clash.
The incident forced travellers and traders who had gone to the commercial town of Okwagbe for market to be stranded.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up between the two warring communities as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and sister security agencies including soldiers were drafted to the area to restore peace.
Effort to speak with the spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command on the fracas was unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
But a senior chief in Ughievwen Kingdom confirmed the killing of four persons during the clash.
The traditional chief, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said the traditional ruler of the kingdom, HRM Matthew Igbe, Owahwa 1, was making frantic efforts to restore peace to the two communities.
