By Ogba O. Ogba
DELTA – PANDEMONIUM looming in Ughelli north and south local government areas of Delta State following a clash between Edjekota community of Ogor kingdom in Ughelli north local government area and Ewu-Urhobo of Ewu kingdom in Ughelli south government area both of Delta State over a dispute on a parcel of land.
Rainbow Newspaper’s impeccable source indicated that trouble started when some members of the Edjekota family went to the parcel of land in dispute farming and were allegedly confronted by some persons from the Ewu community who were escorted by police officers and ordered their arrest.
The source disclosed that there was a heated argument that later snowballed into a fisticuff where some persons from the Edjekota community allegedly sustained grave machete cuts and injuries.
Rainbow Newspaper source, who does not want his name in print, disclosed that there has been a lingering land dispute between the two communities over a parcel of land lying behind the St. Pius Catholic Hospital along Ewu community road.
According to our source, when the news of the attack on Edjekota people by Ewu people filtered into Edjekota town, irritating mobs from the Edjekota community barricaded the only access road leading Edjekota to Ewu community also barricaded the entrance to Edjekota for anyone from coming in or out of the community.
The source discloses further that in a little while, a team of other police officers that came to restore peace were deprived from passing through Edjekota by some youths who were already prepared for a showdown with the Ewu community.
The source stated that the policemen tried all means to drive through the community but were resisted; hence, they allegedly opened fire, and in the process, a stray bullet hit one Martin surname, not known, and died instantly.
This, the source noted, aggravated the already tense situation, and in retaliation, a vigilante official from Ewu, simply identified as Victor Akpofure, who was on his way to Ewu, ran into the crisis and was gruesomely murdered.
As of the time of filing this report, many residents had already fled the community as military personnel had taken over both communities.
A terse message was sent to the PPRO Delta State Police Command SP. Bright Edafe, to confirm the killing has not been replied, but it is still sketchy if the two local government chairmen have waded in to restore peace and normalcy.
