Leadership of feuding Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State have signed a pact to maintain peace and security.
This is as the military comprising the Commanding Officer 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Effurun waded into the lingering boundary crisis.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the intervention of the military into the bloody boundary dispute had caused the leadership of the two communities and other stakeholders to hold a peace parley on Saturday, 17th September 2022, at the Government House Annex at Edjeba, in Warri metropolis.
One person was confirmed shot dead on Friday morning as the inter-communal dispute over boundary demarcation between neighbouring Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities of Udu and Warri South-West Local Government Areas took a dangerous twist.
Community sources however claimed that two deaths were recorded in the early morning shooting spree which threw the entire residents of Ogbe-Ijoh into pandemonium.
During the Saturday’s peace meeting, representatives of the two communities were reportedly given the opportunities to express their grievances, at the end of which it was made clear to them that there was the need to discard all animosities and agree to a truce which they obliged.
Consequently, in the pact signed at the end of the meeting, copies of which were sighted by journalists, the leadership of the warring Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities resolved that peace should be maintained henceforth by both communities.
“Henceforth, the two communities will no longer attack each other over disputed land.
“And that should any breach of peace occur, the persons found to be involved be dealt with squarely”, the agreement stated.
The peace pact noted that even though the general security situation in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities remains relatively calm but unpredictable, “consequently, troops of Operation Delta Hawk will continue to dominate the area with patrols and show of force in conjunction with other security agencies to forestall any threats to the fragile peace”.
Three representatives from the respective community who signed the peace pact were Chief C.C.I. Whiliky, Comrade Shell Okakota Godfirst and Chief Ottoogbiru Vetah for Aladja with Chief Anthony Jolomi, Hon. Denbota Oweikpodor and Chief Lucky Oromoni for Ogbeijor. It was also signed by the Divisional Police Officers in charge of the two communities, CSP Aliyy Shaba and SP KKabiru Audu respectively.
The major decisions taken at the end of the meeting were “that the demarcation of the disputed boundary area between the two communities was to be suspended till further notice;
“That the Governor or a delegation from Delta State Government was to visit the disputed boundary area before recommencement of the demarcation exercise;
“That the leaders of the two feuding communities were to desist from threatening each other. Additionally, any leader or community member who was found culpable of breaching the truce was to be severely sanctioned in accordance with the law henceforth;
“That all arms and ammunition still being harboured in any of the communities were to be voluntarily submitted to the security agencies.”
In attendance at the meeting were representatives of the two feuding communities, the Chairman of Warri South West Local Government, representative of the Chairman Udu LGA, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Police Area Commander Burutu, Divisional Police Officers of Ogbe-Ijoh and Onwie Police Stations as well as representatives of the Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion (Rear) Effurun.
