The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has waded into the unremitting crisis between the devastated Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area and the Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.
Our correspondent gathered that CP Abaniwonda had a tripartite meeting with leaders and representatives of Okuama, Okoloba and Akugbene communities to iron out grey areas of the lingering crisis.
At the meeting, which was held at the office of the Warri Area Command on June 29, were the Delta State Director General on Security, Hon. David Tonwe, representative of the Okuama community, Hon. Belvis Adogbo, Dr David Akpovokeme of the Okoloba community and Professor Actor Ekpekpo of Okuama.
The DG security, who represented the state government during the deliberation in his remarks, stated that the conflict was not new to the state government.
He itemised the factors fuelling the communal conflict to include boundary, fishing rights and leadership issues.
Tonwe acknowledged the efforts of Dr David Akpovokeme of the Okoloba community and Professor Actor Ekpekpo of the Okuama community in the effort to address the lingering crisis.
The DG security also mandated the representative of the Okuama community to provide leadership to engender a fruitful discussion with the government in order to bring the crisis to an end.
The representative from the Okuama community, Hon. Belvis Adogbo, in his remarks, appreciated the effort of the state government and the police for their effort in ensuring that peace is established in the area.
He further acknowledged that the three communities had been living together in peace for many years until the recent land and fishing rights disputes ensued.
His remark was also buttressed by the representatives of both the Akugbene and Okoloba communities.
Meanwhile, CP Abaniwonda, in his remarks, stated that the meeting was not to pass judgment over the land dispute, but to look for a way forward to bring peace among the three communities.
He noted that all the command wanted was to find a way of resolving the dispute and stop the unending crisis that has been resulting in the loss of lives and property.
The police boss said that having listened to all the leaders, it would be fair to conclude that the crisis was triggered by a failure in the leadership of the various communities (inability to control the youths) and the communication gap.
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