The leaders of the Aladja Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State today raised the alarm over a planned attack by the Ogbe-Ijoh people alleging that they(Ogbe-Ijoh people) have imported mercenaries to help them prosecute the agelong against them.
The community leaders, who spoke separately to the press today, said because of the threats, many of their Indigenes have fled the town.
They claimed that the Ogbe-Ijoh people had also chased the military and policemen from their land to carry out the planned attack.
President of Aladja Community Council, ACC, Mr. She’ll Okakotu GodFirst, in a chat with our correspondent, said,”We received series of calls from the riverine. Many of them advice us that we should prepare seriously.”
He noted that hoodlums loyal to two militant leaders in Rivers and Delta states had arrived for the war.
According to him, “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 vowed that they would reciprocate any attack by any means God has given them. He said 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 it might.
“Government saw boys when they came. They could not be able to wage them because of their gun strength. Government just relax and also watched them attack us and go,” he said.
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.
The President of Aladja Youth, Comrade Festus Umukoro, corroborated the position of the President of Aladja Community Council, ACC, noting that the Ogbe-Ijoh people recently attacked them and injured many of their Indigenes.
He said soldiers allegedly ran away during the attack.
Umokoro also said there are rumours that the Ogbe-Ijoh people had perfected plans to attack them saying, “We are still waiting for them.”
A Coordinator of the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard, Comrade Bezi Ighotegwolor, expressed sadness over the happenings between the two communities.
He noted 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.”
While noting that the disputed land belongs to the Aladja people, Bezi said, “We are peacemakers, and we have let go so much of our land. But we will advice 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 Aladja Community Council, Chief (Engr) Paulson Okobiebi, who spoke with our correspondent, said the Aladja Community had always been under the attacks of the Ogbe-Ijoh people.
Chief Okobiebi said the recent attack by the Ogbe-Ijoh people left many wounded in Aladja Community.
He blamed the federal and Delta State governments for not being able to settle the agelong boundary dispute between them and their Ogbe-Ijoh neighbours.