By Matthias Ogbagah
UGHELLI – DETERMINED to end the long-age crisis between Otor-Ihwreko and Ekiugbo communities in Ughelli north local government area, Delta State, the council boss, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, has banned all forms of levies collections in Ughelli main market and all street traders in Ughelli and its environs by all unauthorized persons.
The prescription of the illegal collections, trading along the walkways and middle of the road including Wheelbarrows / Carts, etc, at the market is contained in a communique issued at the joint stakeholders meeting held at the chairman’s house on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
The stakeholder meeting has in attendance the Executive Chairman, the Director General of Waterways and Land Security, Hon. Chief Boro Opudu, all Security Agencies, the Otota of Ughelli Kingdom, Representatives of Otor-Iwhreko and Ekiugbo Communities.
While adopting the earlier communiqué dated Thursday, May 6, 2021, and agreed that the reason for this recent crisis is a result of non-implementation of the 2021 communique and therefore decided that the contents should be re-adopted with immediate effect as follows:
“That the Local Government Council headed by Olorogun Jaro Movudu Egbo Ksc should take its rightful constitutional stand as the administrator of the Markets, and the collection of all levies and revenues as guaranteed in the Constitution of Nigeria.
“That both communities viz Ekiugbo and Otor-Iwhreko are banned from collecting any form of levies in the market and from all Street traders.
“That the Security Agencies henceforth deal with any person, group of persons, or community that engages in illegal collection of levies in and around the market.
“That trading and market activities along the road or walkways in Otor- Iwhreko, Ekiugbo, and Otovwodo markets shall henceforth be illegal, and offenders shall be arrested and prosecuted.
“The issue of the boundary between Ekiugbo and Otor-Iwhreko Communities shall be referred to the appropriate authority at Asaba for its final resolution by the State Government.
“The Police/Army Command should establish Police Posts on both sides of the River striding off the market to maintain the peace of the area.
“That henceforth, none of the communities shall collect any form of
illegal levies from the market traders.
“That trading at the middle of the road, including Wheelbarrows/Carts ete at the market, is hereby abolished.
“That if any of the content of this communique is flouted by any of the Communities, the Youth Leader/Chairman, President shall be held responsible by the security authority”.
Earlier, ACP. Ademola Adebayo lambasted the leadership of both communities for the long-term crisis involving both communities, saying they are the causes of the crises.
Meanwhile, leaders of both warring communities denied the involvement of their communities in the recent crisis that took the lives of three persons.
The communique was signed by Olorogun Jaro Movudu Egbo Ksc the
Executive Chairman of Ughelli North Council, Surv. Peter Akpofure, the Otota of the Great Ughelli Kingdom and Representative of HRM, the Ovie of the Ughelli Kingdom, in the meeting, Chairman of Delta State Waterways, Hon. Chief Boro Opudu, Ughelli North local government Secretary, Hon. Pst. Goodluck Irikefe Unuavworho, Chief Obriki Uloho Miller (Most senior chief of Ughelli Kingdom), Chief Akpimegi Samuel (President General of Ughelli Kingdom), President general of Otor-Iwhreko Community, Engr. David Omotor,
President General of Ekiugbo Community, Comrade Convey Irhude Friday, Immediate past president general of Ekiugbo community, Comrade Bernard Baker, Prof. Omotor Douglas (Stakeholder), ACP. Ademola Adebayo (Ughelli Area Commander), CSP Sadiq Mana DPO “A” Division, Capt. Bello Olu Emmanuel Bravo (Commanding Officer Nigeria Army, Ughelli), Benedict Koche O/C DSS Ughelli North, Emmanuel Omovie Esq (HOD Legal Ughelli North Local Government, and Mr.Godwin Onovweghware (O/C Security Ughelli North Local Government area.
