Crisis: Stop taking sides with Aladja against Ogbe-Ijoh -Group cautions Oborevwori, Security Personnel

By Peters Monday, Abuja

A socio-cultural group under the auspices of Ogbe-Ijoh Leaders of Thought has cautioned the governor of Delta State, His Excellency Sheriff Oborevwori, soldiers from 3 battalion and NNS DELTA personnel in the state to be wary of their actions and roles in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communal crisis to avoid escalating the communal war to ethnic war in the state.

This is according to a statement signed for and on behalf of the Ogbe-Ijoh Leaders of Thought by Chief M. Keme, Hon. Lucky Oromoni, Hon. Michael Oweikpodor, Chief Roland Takembo, Chief David Omare and Chief Golden Donye on Friday.

The group added that it was shameful and sad that the Navy and military personnel deployed to Ogbe-Ijoh community yesterday July 27, 2023, if not for the prompt intervention of good spirited Nigerians were ready to wipe out Ogbe-Ijoh community.

According to the group, while the military took siege of the entire community, the Navy personnel from NNS Delta came from the water front and began to fire shots at the community as if it was fighting war.

They further explained that when leaders of the community confronted the Navy and military personnel of its conduct, they reply by saying they are acting on a directive from above.

The statement reads, “Within the last two weeks, Aladja assailants have launched persistent and consistent attacks on law abiding indigenes of Ogbe-Ijoh. Mostly in the early hours, face-masked assailants will come and fire shots into Ogbe-Ijoh and disappear within minutes and in one of such encounters, two female students – Kilou Blessing (23 years) and Contractor Destiny (13 years) where shot at sight and are still receiving treatment in the hospital.

“Then on the 22nd of July, 2023, same face-masked assailants from the extreme side of Ogbe-Ijoh creek near the Police Station fired several shots into Ogbe-Ijoh and in the process stray bullet hit a wedding guest, Miss Patience Johnson (29 years) and she died instantly. In the gun battle that followed thereafter, Mr. Pere Iyoroagha (32 years) was killed. All these incidents were reported to the Delta State Government and security agencies.

The group added that despite all these unprovoked and unwarranted attacks and killings of indigenes of Ogbe-Ijoh community by Aladja community youths, no military or navy and including the Delta government had not given any directive to invade Aladja community with a view to burn it down.

The statement titled, “RECENT SECURITY BREACHES OVER THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE BETWEEN ALADJA AND OGBE-IJOH: A CALL ON DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT AND SECURITY AGENCIES TO BE NEUTRAL, said: “Gentle men of the Press, the Ogbe-Ijoh Leaders of Thought wishes to bring to the attention of the public recent security breaches over the boundary dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh. The issues are no longer news to the public, especially the Government of Delta State and security agencies. Also, it was widely reported in the news and officially communicated to Government of Delta State, the Commissioner of Police Delta State Command and State Security Services Delta State of what is happening between the two communities.

The narrated, “It is also important to bring to public knowledge that since 2016 to date, there is lawlessness in Aladja community. It was alleged that the community procured the services of one time popular kidnap kingpin from Orogun town, and these mercenaries took over the leadership of Aladja wherein they brought into Aladja all the wanted hardened criminals, bandits and kidnappers to prosecute the war. On numerous occasions, most wanted hardened criminals were arrested in Aladja which is now safe heaven for criminals. It is these criminals and cultists Aladja community brought into their community to promote native war that is now terrorising both communities. These facts are before the Government and security agencies in the State.

“Therefore, a responsible Government in the given circumstances will ensure presence of security personnel along the entire stretch of road leading to Ogbe-Ijoh to allow for free human and vehicular movement. The Government of Delta State and security agencies can’t claimed ignorance of the fact that since 2016 to date, nobody accesses Ogbe-Ijoh through the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh road, including Government officials. Only Security Personnel, especially Soldiers that make use of Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh road. In fact, at a point in time, the Police, NSCDC and other paramilitary forces were stopped from accessing Ogbe-Ijoh through the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh road.

“Furthermore, the Police in Ogbe-Ijoh have to remove Ogbe-Ijoh Division printed in the Hilux vehicle before allowing them to access Ogbe-Ijoh through the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh access road to Ogbe-Ijoh. The failure of Delta State Government to take decisive security measures in safe guarding life and properties of Ogbe-Ijoh people, visitors and Government workers is making us feel that they are interested parties in the boundary dispute.

“As at the time of this press release, the Soldiers in Ogbe-Ijoh forced everybody indoors, no movement in and out of Ogbe-Ijoh whereas in Aladja people are moving freely. Upon enquiry, the Soldiers claimed the order is from the Delta State Government. The Nigerian Navy on the other hand, through the water front in Ogbe-Ijoh shut several shots into the ancient sherine of Egbesu and injure three persons.

“We also want to use this medium to call on the Military Command to caution their men to wear human face in the course of restoring calmness. We also call on men of goodwill and conscience to come to the aid of the Ogbe-Ijoh people as the Delta State Government under Sheriff Oborewori has vested interest and has vowed to frustrate the Ogbe-Ijoh people in this regard”, the group added.