Tension as Communities Fight Over Oil Spillage in Delta

There is palpable tension in Delta State as the lingering land dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Udu and Warri South-West Local Government Areas has spilled over to Warri South Local Government with sporadic gun shots and attacks from both sides.

It was gathered that suspected Ogbe-Ijoh militants allegedly stormed Aladja community at about 6am on Friday, June 2, shooting sporadically at everyone on sight.

The incident made Urhobo and Ijaw residents to flee their homes through the waterways to Pessu, McCaiver, Main Markets Axis the stronghold of the Agbarha-Warri Urhobos who before now were also having a land dispute with their Ijaw brothers over the ownership of Iron Market in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Several persons have been seriously wounded but no one has been confirmed dead at the time of this report.

An indigene of Aladja community, Comrade Igjitegwuolor Bezi in a chat with newsmen confirmed the report 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 Council, Hon. Mofe Matthew Edema said that,” Soldiers and Policemen are there now” just as he called for peace among the warring groups.