Comrade Efemena Kelly Umukoro, the youthwing president of the Urhobo Progress Union UPU has said that the failure of the Delta state government to implement recommendations on the crisis rocking Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities was the cause of the unending battle in the area.
Umukoro’s claim followed the resumed uprising that reportedly led to the death of one youth and injury of another allegedly orchestrated by Ogbe-Ijoh youths.
The youth activist made the submission after an assessment of the destruction that happened in the area on Sunday. He was accompanied by his vice president to the scene
On Sunday, there were uprising in the area where one was killed and another injured
He told Emerald News that: “It is sad and painful that as leaders we reported this issue three weeks ago when we got a threat from one Ogbe-Ijoh youth over a possible attack on Aladja community.
“When his threat was made public to the leadership of UPU youthwing, I immediately made series of calls to leaders of the Ijaw nation. I spoke directly with the youth and pleaded with him to calm down for us to meet and resolve this issue.
“The day I was to meet with him I was attacked, my vehicles were destroyed and phones got missing, hence I couldn’t see him.
“It is painful that despite my appeal to him he has decided to carry out his threat of violence against the Aladja people.
“I was informed of the attack on Aladja community at about 6.00pm on Sunday. I decided to move down to the troubled community to meet with the Area Commander Burutu Adepegba Kolawole AC and the DPO Ovwian/Aladja.
I was accompanied by my Vice President, Frank Mughele. The situation on ground is under control. It is with deep pains that I have to announce that one Urhobo youth, Daniel Gbikeke lost his life.
“He was shot dead at the front of his house. We had little issues in depositing the corpse at the mortuary until I made a passionate call to the ACP who directed that the division should deposit the corpse at the mortuary.
“Another youth named Igbede Ighotegwolor was shot and seriously injured. I led my team to visit him at the hospital. By the grace of God he is in a stable condition. He will be conveyed to a specialist hospital.”
For him, the Delta state government is squarely to blame for failing to implement decisions reached by various committees set up by the same government to unravel the causes and find permanent solution to the years of crisis.
He said to put an end to the continuous bloodshed the piece of land under dispute should be donated to the Nigeria Navy or a military barrack be built in it to stop all this blood share.
He called on security agent to arrest all those who incited members of the public into this senseless war.
