After Communal Clash, Dafinone Urges Delta Communities to Maintain Peace

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Senator representing Delta Central district, Senator Ede Dafinone has urged the people of Aladja community in Udu Local government area of Delta State to continue to live in peace with their neighbours.

The Senator made the plea, over the weekend, when he sent a delegation led by Adelabu Bodjor, to the community to assess the recent communal clash with Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West Local government area of the state.

He lamented that the recent communal clash between Aladja Community and Ogbe-Ijoh left extensive damage and destruction in its wake.    
Dafinone decried the shocking scenes of devastation throughout the Aladja Community with many homes and cars damaged or destroyed during the violence between the two sides.

 “So much damage had been done, so many lives upended. But amidst the ruins, he also saw resilience. Families helping each other, coming together in the face of adversity,” the Delta Central Senator lamented.

He admonished them to be calm and law-abiding and appealed to security agencies to carry out their duty without infringing on the people’s right.
The clashes between the warring Aladja, an Urhobo Community of Udu Council and Ogbe-Ijoh, an Ijaw Community of Warri South West Council Areas in Delta State were reportedly triggered by the state government’s failure to demarcate the disputed boundary.

Some of the victims, while recounting their ordeal, had claimed that they were attacked by men in military uniform, who were allegedly enforcing the curfew imposed by the state government.

Godwin Akporido, one of the victims, stated, “They destroyed our windows and some other things while the patients inside the clinic, including me, ran away.”
The brother of the late Efe America, who also spoke, alleged that his brother was killed while trying to defend the community adding “My brother was shot by Ogbe-Ijohpeople while trying to defend the community out there. He is survived by two children.”

Another resident of Aladja, Bright Soye, who was shot in the shoulder, explained that they were at home when they were suddenly attacked by armed men from the Ogbe-Ijoh community. He insisted that they were running when he was shot.

Addressing Aladja community leaders, Bodjor said Dafinone sent the team to assess the extent of the damage caused by the clashes with the hope of reaching back.