Two persons have been killed as tension is currently heightened over land ownership between Edjekota-Ogor and Ewu communities in Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Though, the report is sketchy, it learned that both communities had longed been claiming ownership of a stretch of land in the area.
A source from one of the communities said, “This issue of land ownership matter is at High Court in Jeremi and we are supposed to be in court April 10.
According to the source, “As usual, our people had been going to farm on the land until this morning (Monday) when the other community went with the police to arrest them in their farm land and those that escaped came to notify our community people.
“Some of our people that were arrested are, Izaga, Michael Itedjere and Pa Othu and his wife who was later released because of their age.
“Our people moved into the bush in search of those who were missing and in the process, they saw two of their persons who were apprehended and handed over to Ughelli Area Commander.
“As that was not enough while returning from the bush, a combined team of police, hunters and vigilantes entered our community and were shooting sporadically.
While shooting sporadically, one of vigilantes, identified as Henry (other name withheld) who is from the other community shot one of our persons, Martins Ekerhare on his stomach who was sitting at the front of a building, who died instantly.
“Also another of our person, Victor Akpojaro who was returning from the farm with his motorcycle was shot dead while Mr Karo Jerry and others sustained injuries.
“As a law abiding community, we took their corpse to the Ughelli Area Command and the Area Commander directed that they should be taken to the mortuary.
“Currently Pa Othu who witnessed what happened in the farm is at the Ughelli Area Command to give statement on what transpired
“If this continues, we as a community would have no option than to cut off the road to avoid more trouble”, one of the community sources disclosed.
Efforts to contact the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright was not successful as calls to his line were not answered nor returned and text message sent him was not replied as at the time of this report.
However, a security source who commented on the incident said, “Before now the Council of Ughelli North and Ughelli South were handling the matter but I can’t tell what transpired today”
