•••Urged the Delta State Government, IGP to establish a commission of Inquiry to investigate the actions of the police officers and vigilantes

•••Demand for immediate and unconditional release of all Edjekota community members detained in Police custody

•••Declared that there is no crisis between Edjekota and Ewu communities

By Matthias Ogbagah

DELTA – The leadership of the Edjekota-Ogor community, Ogor kingdom in Ughelii north local government area of Delta State, has condemned the unlawful arrests, brutality, and senseless killings by police officers under the Ughelli Area Command.
While indicting the Nigeria police and local hunters under the supervision of Ughelli Area Police Command for the killing of Mr. Amakashi Martins from the Edjekota community and Mr. Victor Akpojarho from the Ewu community, the community noticed with dismay the unprofessional act of the police.
While addressing creams of journalists in the state during a press briefing held at the community’s Town Hall, the president general of the Edjekota community, Pastor. Oghenemakpor Uyo demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Edjekota community members detained by Delta State Police in her custody.
Uyo called on the Delta State government and IGP to establish a commission of Inquiry to investigate the actions of the police officers and vigilantes to unravel the truth of the issue at hand.

According to him, the Edjekota-Ogor community in the Ughelli North local government area and the Ewu-Urhobo community in the Ughelli South local government area all of Delta State have been living together peacefully, saying there is no crisis between the two communities.
“There is no crisis between Edjekota and Ewu communities. What exists is a land dispute between a family in the Edjekota community and a family in the Ewu community, a matter currently being addressed through the appropriate legal channels at the Ughelli South Local Government Area Customary Court in Edjophe.
“The efforts of Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command to fabricate a communal conflict only serve to obscure the truth and divert attention from the real issue: the unlawful actions of police officers and vigilantes that led to the killing of members of both Edjekota and Ewu communities”.
Speaking on what transpired on April 7th, 2025, he said, “On this day members of the Edjekota community fell victim to unlawful arrests, brutality, and senseless killings by police officers under the Ughelli Area Command, with the active support of certain individuals from Ewu community.

What should have been a day of hard work and productivity for our farmers has instead become a tragic chapter in the history of our community termed “A BLACK MONDAY”.
“On that fateful day, several members of the Edjekota community ventured to their farmlands to clear their farms, a task essential to our survival. Without provocation, these individuals were arrested by officers from Ughelli Area Command, acting on the instructions of a family from Ewu town.

“It is appalling to note that NO INVITATION was extended to the affected individuals to appear at the Ughelli Area Command to address the allegations against them before the police officers from the Ughelli Area Command stormed their farms to arrest them.
“The arrested members of our community were then clandestinely and peacefully transported to the Ughelli Area Command, without the knowledge or consent of the Edjekota Community leadership. When words spread of this unlawful action, the youths of our community peacefully took to the streets of Edjekota community to protest.
“However, their peaceful demonstration was met with even greater injustice. A group of police officers and vigilantes led by Mr. Robinson, a police officer attached to the Ughelli Area Command, and Mr. Henry Okoro, a vigilante hunter, both indigenes of the Ewu community, stormed the Edjekota community. What followed was a gross violation of our people’s rights. The police officers including the said Mr. Robinson, opened fire on our PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and several others injured by gunshot wounds. The dead, Mr. Amakashi Martins from the Edjekota community and Mr. Victor Akpojarho from the Ewu community were innocent Nigerians who were neither violent nor deserving of such brutality that led to their death.

According to a press statement by the Edjekota community president general reads in parts:
“It is with profound sorrow and grave concern that I stand before you today to address the deeply troubling and unjust events that unfolded on April 7th, 2025.
“On this day, members of the Edjekota community fell victim to unlawful arrests, brutality, and senseless killings by police officers under the Ughelli Area Command, with the active support of certain individuals from the Ewu community. What should have been a day of hard work and productivity for our farmers has instead become a tragic chapter in the history of our community termed “A BLACK MONDAY”.
“On that fateful day, several members of the Edjekota community ventured to their farmlands to clear their farms, a task essential to our survival. Without provocation, these individuals were arrested by officers from Ughelli Area Command, acting on the instructions of a family from Ewu town.
“It is appalling to note that NO INVITATION was extended to the affected individuals to appear at the Ughelli Area Command to address the allegations against them before the police officers from the Ughelli Area Command stormed their farms to arrest them.
“Furthermore, these officers failed to notify the leadership of the Edjekota Community of their activities. This blatant disregard for proper procedure raises serious concerns about the legitimacy and motivations behind the intervention of the police officers under the Ughelli Area Command.
“The arrested members of our community were then clandestinely and peacefully transported to the Ughelli Area Command, without the knowledge or consent of the Edjekota Community leadership. When words spread of this unlawful action, the youths of our community peacefully took to the streets of Edjekota community to protest.
“However, their peaceful demonstration was met with even greater injustice. A group of police officers and vigilantes led by Mr. Robinson, a police officer attached to the Ughelli Area Command, and Mr. Henry Okoro, a vigilante hunter, both indigenes of the Ewu community, stormed the Edjekota community. What followed was a gross violation of our people’s rights. The police officers including the said Mr. Robinson, opened fire on our PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and several others injured by gunshot wounds. The dead, Mr. Amakashi Martins from the Edjekota community and Mr. Victor Akpojarho from the Ewu community were innocent Nigerians who were neither violent nor deserving of such brutality that led to their death.
“To date, none of the police officers or vigilantes involved in these killings have been arrested or held accountable for their actions. Their involvement in these atrocities has yet to be investigated, and no one has been questioned or held responsible for the deaths. This is not merely a failure of law enforcement—it is an outright violation of HUMAN RIGHTS and a direct attack on the dignity of our people.
“Further compounding this tragedy, the police under the Ughelli Area Command have attempted to misrepresent the facts, issuing false reports that suggest a violent conflict between Edjekota and Ewu communities. This narrative is completely FALSE.
“There is no crisis between Edjekota and Ewu communities. What exists is a land dispute between a family in the Edjekota community and a family in the Ewu community, a matter currently being addressed through the appropriate legal channels at the Ughelli South Local Government Area Customary Court in Edjophe.
“The efforts of Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command to fabricate a communal conflict only serve to obscure the truth and divert attention from the real issue: the unlawful actions of police officers and vigilantes that led to the killing of members of both Edjekota and Ewu communities.
While questioning the authority of the police under the Ughelli command, the community demanded to know the following:
“The Edjekota community has several critical questions that demand immediate answers:
“Who authorized the arrest of our farmers on their own farmland by officers from the Ughelli Area Command? This action contradicts clear directives from the Inspector General of Police, which explicitly prohibits police involvement in land disputes.
“Who gave the order for Mr. Robinson, other police officers, and vigilantes to open fire on peaceful protesters in Edjekota, leading to the tragic loss of life and severe injuries?
“Why are Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command spreading false information about a violent communal conflict between Edjekota and Ewu communities, when both communities have coexisted peacefully for many years”?
We, the people of Ethe Djekota community, unequivocally reject the actions of the Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command and the attempts to criminalize our peaceful protest.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all Edjekota community members currently detained by the Delta State Police Command.
“In light of these grave concerns, we call upon the Inspector General of Police to take immediate control of the investigation into these incidents. The actions of the Police Officers involved in the unlawful arrests and the subsequent shootings and kikillingsemand thorough and impartial scrutiny. The local police officers under the Ughelli Area