Delta Land Dispute: 2 Lives Lost, Others Sustain Injuries, Communities Abandoned

Two lives were already lost, with several others injured as crisis erupted between the Edjekota community in Ughelli North local government area and the Ewu-Urhobo community in Ughelli South local government area over land dispute.

A reliable source who resides in the Edjekota community disclosed that there has been a lingering land dispute between a particular family in the Edjekota community and the Ewu-Urhobo community over a particular piece of land behind the St. Pius Catholic Hospital along the Ewu community road.

As of the time of filing this report, many residents had already fled the community as military personnel had taken over both communities.

The source stated that as the dispute persisted, some members of the Edjekota family went to the land for reasons he couldn’t explain. They said they were allegedly confronted by some persons from the Ewu community, who were escorted by police officers and ordered their arrest.

The source said the visit led to a heated argument that later snowballed into a fisticuff where some persons from the Edjekota community allegedly sustained machete cuts.

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According to the source, a team of other police officers who came to restore peace were prevented from passing through Edjekota by some youths already prepared for a showdown with the Ewu community.

The source stated that the policemen tried all means to drive through the community but were sternly resisted. Hence, they allegedly opened fire, and in the process, a stray bullet killed one Martin, who died instantly.

This, the source noted, aggravated the already tense situation. In retaliation, a vigilante officer from Ewu, identified as Victor Akpofure, who was on his way to Ewu, ran into the crisis and was gruesomely murdered.

Police public relations officer (PPRO), Delta State Police Command, SP. Bright Edafe confirmed the killings.