Tension in Delta over Aladja/ Ogbe-Ijoh renewed communal war

A war reportedly broke out between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities in the morning hours of today Friday, September 16, after some moments of truce.

Recall, a purported Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh boundary committee led by the chairmen of Udu and Warri South West Local Government Areas was accused of demolishing some houses in the Ogbe-Ijoh community during an alleged boundary adjustment exercise early this week.

However, the alleged boundary committee is yet to debunk the allegation.

It was unclear whether the fresh war broke out as a result of the demolition of the suspected houses in the Ogbe-Ijoh community or it was unconnected to the skirmish early this week.

According to a report, the Aladja youths stormed the peaceful Ogbe-Ijoh community where there was a heavy exchange of gunfire at about 4 am today.

A source said two indigenes of the Ogbe-Ijoh community were shot dead and others were seriously wounded during the attack in the community.

The report also accused the military of taking sides with the Aladja community against the Ogbe-Ijoh community.

However, the army authorities have debunked the alleged involvement, adding that they only went to calm the situation and stop angry youths from invading the police station in the Ogbe-Ijoh community.

A youth leader in Aladja who equally spoke to Congress correspondent on the condition of anonymity also accused the Ogbe-Ijoh community of invading them in the wee hours of this morning.