UGHELLI SOUTH: Delta govt, CP summon Okuama, Okoloba, other communities for peace meeting in Warri
By ABIRHIRE THOMAS
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, recently summoned leaders and members of Okoloba, Akugbene and Okuama communities for a peace meeting.
The meeting became exigent due to the lingering crisis among the three communities.
The DEFENDER learnt that the meeting was held at the Police Area Command office in Warri, with the Delta State Director General, Security, Hon. David Tonye, in attendance.
The CP in his remarks, stated that the meeting was not to pass judgement over the land dispute but to look for a way forward to bring lasting peace among the three communities.
The representative from Okuama community, Hon. Belvis Adogbo, in his remark, appreciated the effort of the state government and the police in ensuring that the lingering crisis came to an end.
He further stated that they had been living together in peace for many years until the recent land and fishing right dispute ensued.
His remark was also buttressed by the representatives of both Akugbene and Okoloba communities.
The CP, in response, noted that all the Command wanted was to find a way of resolving the dispute and stop the continuous crisis that had been leading to loss of human lives.
He said that having listened to all the leaders, it would be fair to say that the crisis was due to failure in leadership of the various communities (inability to control the youths) and communication gap.
The DG security, David Tonye, who represented the state government during the deliberation in his remarks, stated that the conflict was not new to the state government and itemized the way forward.
“The boundary issues, and the fishing right issue and thirdly leadership issue,” he said.
He acknowledged the effort of Dr. David Akpovokeme of Okoloba community and Professor Actor Ekpekpo of Okuama community in the effort to address the lingering crisis.
The DG security mandated the representative of Okuama community to provide their leadership to enable fruitful discussion with the government to bring the crisis to an end.
