Police Blame Okuama Crisis On Leaders’ Inability To Control Youths

Determined to make sure the lingering crisis between Okoloba, Akugbene and Okuama communities in Delta State ends, the commissioner of police, Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi has met with their leaders and members.

The CP, who met with them over the weekend at the Area Command office in Warri, blamed leaders of the various communities for their failure and inability to control the youth and for the communication gap that culminated in the crisis.

He said the meeting became necessary due to the lingering crisis among the three communities. He regretted that the people had been living together in peace for many years until the recent land and fishing rights dispute ensued.

Flanked by the Delta State director-general on security, Hon. David Tonwea, the CP stated that the meeting was not to pass judgement over the land dispute but to find a way to bring peace among the three communities.

“All the command wants is to find a way of resolving the dispute and stop the continuous crisis that has been leading to the loss of human lives.

“He said that having listened to all the leaders, it will be fair to say that it is the failure of leaders of the various communities and inability to control the youths and communication gap which culminated in the crisis,” Olufemi said.

The DG security, who represented the state government during the deliberation, remarked that the conflict is familiar to the state government.

The problems are the boundary issues, the fishing rights issue, and the leadership issue,“ Tonwea stated.
The DG mandated the Okuama community representative to provide leadership to enable fruitful discussions with the government and to end the crisis.