Inside Delta
One killed as chieftaincy title, land disputes tears Delta communities apart
Written By: Mathew Ochei , Gloria Nwafor
31 Dec 2024 04:52 AM
Aboh, Delta – One person was reportedly shot dead while three others were injured in a bloody clash arising from the conferment of a chieftaincy title of an indigene of the Aboh community in Delta State.
According to PUNCH Metro, a community source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, on Monday, said the incident that happened on Sunday had created tension in the community.
“Those opposing the chieftaincy title conferment had tried to stop the procession when they clashed with the hunters following the controversies arising from the conferment of a chieftaincy title on one of the indigenes of the community.
“In the process, shooting started; one person was shot dead while three persons sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital for treatment,” the source explained.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mr. Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, saying that the man died in a hospital where he was taken for treatment.
Edafe said: “It was as a result of two factions that they have in the community.
“Somebody was given a chieftaincy title and part of the protocols was that once you are given the title, you will dance around the community.
“When he was dancing, he now danced to the faction of the group that was not on his side, so they attacked him.
“The man that was dancing also carried some hunters who were escorting him. When they attacked him, the hunters retaliated.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Mr Vincent Osilonya, imposed a curfew in Aboh from 7.pm to 6.am.
He said: “The position is that we have imposed a curfew in Aboh from 7.pm to 6.am while we are are speaking with them to sheathe their swords. Nobody should take the law into their own hands.”
BENDEL Mirror recall that the Delta State Government recently presented a staff of office to His Imperial Majesty, Dr Gregory Nnamdi Oputa III, as the 20th Obi of the kingdom amidst agitations.
In a related development, the Forum of Delta State Stakeholders (FODESS) has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to wade into clashes among communities in Aniocha South Local Council of the state over land disputes.
The group, in a statement, stressed the need for Oborevwori to take special interest in the issue to avert a similar scenario witnessed in March during the Okuama-Okoloba land crisis in Ughelli South Local Council.
Coordinator of the group, Tony Masha, in the statement, said that there had been frequent clashes over land disputes among Isheagu, Ewulu, Uku-Oba, Umute, Abah, and other communities in Aniocha South council, leading to outbreaks of violence.
According to PUNCH Metro, a community source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, on Monday, said the incident that happened on Sunday had created tension in the community.
“Those opposing the chieftaincy title conferment had tried to stop the procession when they clashed with the hunters following the controversies arising from the conferment of a chieftaincy title on one of the indigenes of the community.
“In the process, shooting started; one person was shot dead while three persons sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital for treatment,” the source explained.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mr. Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, saying that the man died in a hospital where he was taken for treatment.
Edafe said: “It was as a result of two factions that they have in the community.
“Somebody was given a chieftaincy title and part of the protocols was that once you are given the title, you will dance around the community.
“When he was dancing, he now danced to the faction of the group that was not on his side, so they attacked him.
“The man that was dancing also carried some hunters who were escorting him. When they attacked him, the hunters retaliated.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Mr Vincent Osilonya, imposed a curfew in Aboh from 7.pm to 6.am.
He said: “The position is that we have imposed a curfew in Aboh from 7.pm to 6.am while we are are speaking with them to sheathe their swords. Nobody should take the law into their own hands.”
BENDEL Mirror recall that the Delta State Government recently presented a staff of office to His Imperial Majesty, Dr Gregory Nnamdi Oputa III, as the 20th Obi of the kingdom amidst agitations.
In a related development, the Forum of Delta State Stakeholders (FODESS) has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to wade into clashes among communities in Aniocha South Local Council of the state over land disputes.
The group, in a statement, stressed the need for Oborevwori to take special interest in the issue to avert a similar scenario witnessed in March during the Okuama-Okoloba land crisis in Ughelli South Local Council.
Coordinator of the group, Tony Masha, in the statement, said that there had been frequent clashes over land disputes among Isheagu, Ewulu, Uku-Oba, Umute, Abah, and other communities in Aniocha South council, leading to outbreaks of violence.
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