Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Crisis Has Lingered For Too Long —Rights Activist

Says Govt. Officials May Be Benefiting From The Communal Clash

By Daniel Dafe

Activist Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen has said that the communal clash between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja, two communities in Delta State, that has resulted in destruction of live and property, displaced thousands of people both in the past and recent years, has lingered for too long.

He said this in a statememt on Wednesday, wondering if some persons in the communities or the State Government benefit from the crisis and are frustrating efforts in resolving the boundary dispute.

He recalled that after a protracted land dispute between Ogbe-Ijoh, in Warri South-West local government area and Aladja in Udu local government area of Delta State, the former Governor, His excellency Ifeanyi A. Okowa inaugurated a eight-man panel of inquiry to look at the issue and profer lasting solutions to the issue in May 2016.

“Both communities had agreed to work and to achieve lasting peace if the State Government implement decisions taken to the benefits of all. But to the surprise of both communities, former Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa did not implement (fully the White Paper), the report of the Prof. Abednego Ekoko-led Panel of Inquiry.

He continued: “If truly it was sincere about finding lasting solution to the age long feud, the report would have been implemented and the peace between both communities, restored.

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“These matter would have been resolved a long time ago, only if the government had handled it with the sincerity, objectivity and urgency it deserves. The crisis continued till 2018, and has lingered till date. I want to urge his excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, to revisit the panel reports and ensure it is critically looked into, and the reports implemented or better still, set up another panel of inquiry and put the disputes to final rest. There mustn’t be interest of oil and gas in the both communities before the place is heavily guarded and peace restored because any form of insecurity anywhere is a threat to the peace, progress and development of a place.”

He also called the attention of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass; to wade into action, to crackdown and recover firearms being used to perpetuate crimes in both communities.

“From the sound of sporadic gunfire, being shot at reprisal (attack), one could tell that the weapons being used are sophisticated and as such, shouldn’t be in the hands of civilians,” he said.