18 feared killed as Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh indigenes resume hostilities

Eighteen people were feared killed on Monday at Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State, as residents resumed hostilities.

There was tension in the towns yesterday.

The communities claimed to have lost nine persons apiece.

While Aladja indigenes alleged that soldiers supported Ogbe-Ijoh community and shot dead nine people in their community during a protest by women and children, Ogbe-Ijoh residents claimed that Aladja militia killed nine of their people in a surprise attack.

Police and Army sources debunked the allegations.

The Army expressed surprise at an alleged blackmail attempt on its

personnel sent to restore peace and sanity, but who were waylaid and denied access to Ogbe-Ijoh by Aladja people. The Police said there was no report of any death from both communities.

Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka told The Nation in Warri: “It can’t be true. The last SITREP I got on it, about 40 minutes to one hour ago, confirmed there was no death. If there was, I would have reported it. All hands are on deck, even my CP is on top of the matter. He is addressing it.”

The apex Urhobo socio-cultural body, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), has enjoined the state and federal governments to intervene and end carnage in the area.

It said they should investigate the allegation of extrajudicial killing of Aladja people against the Army.

The Nation gathered that the latest violence began on Monday evening with people from Ogbe-Ijoh alleging that Aladja youths stormed their community and injured eight people.

The Ogbe-Ijoh youths, in what they called a reprisal, also stormed Aladja.

It was, however, unknown what happened during the reprisal on Aladja, although it was learnt that there was exchange of gunshots between the two sides.

It was gathered that in an attempt to stop the fight, the Police called for a back-up from the Army and on arrival, the Aladja end had been barricaded by the youth, preventing soldiers from gaining access. That was when Aladja people claimed the Army shot dead nine of their indigenes.

Reacting to the indictment of its men by Aladja community, the 6 Division, Port Harcourt described the claim of extrajudicial killing by its men as false and an attempt to blackmail the Army.

Spokesman Col. Aminu Iliyasu, in a phone chat with The Nation, said no soldier from 3 Battalion, Effurun, who were the ones sent to restore peace to the area, fired one bullet, despite provocation and attack by Aladja youths, who barricaded the only access through their town to Ogbe-Ijoh.

UPU President-General Chief

Moses Taiga urged the government to find a solution to the crisis.

He called for investigation into the alleged killing of Aladja indigenes by soldiers.