The leaders and residents of the Aladja Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State raised the alarm over a planned attack by the Ogbe-Ijoh people alleging that they (Ogbe-Ijoh) have imported mercenaries to help them prosecute the agelong feud against them.
According to the community leaders, the threats has made many indigenes to flee the town. They claimed that the prople of Ogbe-Ijoh had also chased the military and policemen from their land to carry out the planned attack.
In a chat with Daily Post, President of Aladja Community Council (ACC), She’ll Okakotu GodFirst said, “We received series of calls from the riverine; many of them advise us that we should prepare seriously.”
He stated that hoodlums loyal to two militant leaders in Rivers and Delta states had arrived for the attack.
“Those are the threats they gave to us. Most of them who are friendly with our sons and daughters called them that they should carry their luggage and leave the town that any moment from now, they’re going to attack,” GodFirst said.
He vowed that they would reciprocate any attack by any means God has given them, adding that they no longer have confidence in the government, especially the military stationed in the area.
“The last time they attacked us, the government was with us. The military are there, I was surprised the military could not respond; we could chase them, they left because of our might.
“Government saw the boys when they came; they could not wage them because of their gun strength. Government just relaxed and watched them attack us and go,” the ACC President added.
GodFirst, who pointed out that a series of peace accords had been signed between the two communities and the government said the Ogbe-Ijoh people had always breached same without any consequences meted on them by the Delta State Government and the military.
Corroborating the position of the ACC president, the President of Aladja Youth, Festus Umukoro, stated that the Ogbe-Ijoh people recently attacked them and injured many of their indigenes, alleging that the soldiers ran away during the attack.
Umokoro said that there are rumours that the Ogbe-Ijoh people had perfected plans to attack them saying, “We are still waiting for them.”
Expressing sadness over the happenings between the two communities, a Coordinator of the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard, Bezi Ighotegwolor, said that his counterpart in Ogbe-Ijoh is not also happy over the matter.
He said, “It is surprising that so many of the people who stood as peace ambassadors in Ogbe-Ijoh are now people who are calling for war, especially Victor Akemetubo, present Ijaw Youth Council Chairman in Ogbe-Ijoh.
“Even at that, peace is priceless. We are also calling for peace. The Ogbe-Ijoh people should embrace peace so that this issue could be resolved amicably.”
“The Aladja people, when we talk to them, they listen to us. That was why Phase I of the boundary demarcation was done even when the Aladja people were protesting, we came in and appealed to them, and they listened to us.
“We also expect our counterpart from Ogbe-Ijoh to talk to their people to accept the boundary demarcation presently,” he added.
While noting that the disputed land belongs to the Aladja people, Bezi said, “We are peacemakers, and we have let go of so much of our land. But we will advise the Ogbe-Ijoh people to sheath their swords and embrace peace.
“War is not friendly. Peace is friendly. War lives in its wake, sorrow, tears, and blood while peace brings joy, happiness, growth.”
A former President of the ACC, Engr. Paulson Okobiebi, said that Aladja Community had always been under the attacks of the Ogbe-Ijoh people.
He noted that the recent attack by the Ogbe-Ijoh people left many wounded in Aladja. He blamed the federal government and Delta State government for not being able to settle the agelong boundary dispute between them and their Ogbe-Ijoh neighbours.
