No, Its Security Men That Aladja Refused To Pay That Attack Them — Ogbe-Ijoh
The lingering crisis between Ogbe-Ijoh community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State and Aladja community in Udu Local Government Area of the state took a new dimension on Friday as Ogbe-Ijoh community attacked Aladja community, leaving two persons dead, over hundred injured and three houses burnt.
Loading ...It was gathered that the rampaging members of the Ogbe-Ijoh community attacked Aladja through neighbouring Esaba community road and the main Ogbe-Ijoh road, shooting sporadically with their sophisticated weapons to ensure that Aladja was totally wiped out.
It was further gathered that the two persons, Mr. Chicago Friday and Mr. Sunday Ovien who died as a result of the attack where killed in their farm and construction site, while many others sustained various degrees of injuries from flying bullets.
President General of Aladja community, Mr. Elias Dogene, when contacted, said theFriday evening attack started immediately the Mobile Policemen with four Hilux Vans who have been alleged to be supporting the Ogbe-Ijoh people pleaded for Aladja community to allow them to leave.
He stressed that 30 minutes after the Mobile Policemen left, the rampaging Ogbe-Ijoh youths stormed Aladja community with sophisticated weapons which led to the death of Mr. Chicago Friday and Mr. Sunday Ovien, while many others who sustained various degrees of injuries are receiving treatment in hospitals around Udu and environs.
Dogene pleaded with the state government to detail security agencies to the disputed area to enable the enquiry committee setup by the state government do its job. “This incessant attack on us by Ogbe-Ijoh community is a strategy to distract the enquiry committee from doing its job because they may not have any tangible document to back up their claim on the land that does not belong to them”.
Hon. Andrew Gbise, a prominent leader of Aladja community who also spoke to Independent Newspaper, said the boys that attacked Aladja community on Fridayevening are members of the Niger Delta Avengers hired by Ogbe-Ijoh community which made it very difficult for us to withstand them. “I was also shot by the boys while walking along street, as I am speaking with you now, I am in a private hospital receiving treatment”.
He revealed that it was when members of the Niger Delta Avengers arrived the Ogbe-Ijoh community that made the Mobile Policemen who have been alleged to be helping them attack Aladja left to enable the NDA members burn Aladja community but the Almighty God who knows that we cannot die unjustly for allowing Ogbe-Ijoh live in part of our land when they were driven from the present GRA in Warri which was their original home many years ago during the reign of King Nana of Itsekiri.
Gbise pleaded with the state government to come to their aide by detailing security agencies to the disputed area to enable the enquiry committee setup by the state government do her job.
Mr. Monday Keme, Press Secretary to the Ogbe-Ijoh Community Traditional Council, in a telephone chat, told Independent Newspaper that it waw security men hired by both communities whom requested for payment of services rendered that shot the Aladja people. He added that Aladja people refused to pay the security agents and that angered them to shoot at the Aladja people.
On why the community hired members of the NDA to attack Aladja, he said “we never hired any member of the NDA. We don’t know them and they have promised through various media that they won’t kill anyone in cause of their struggle”. Our community is fully secured by security agencies so there is no way any youth can leave and attack Aladja.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta state, CSP Celestina Kalu proved abortive as her phone rang out on several trials, even text messages sent to her phone where not replied to as at press time.
