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Boundary Crisis: Delta Communities Sign Peace, Security Agreement

Published

2 years ago

September 18, 2022

Editor

Leadership of feuding Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State have signed a pact to maintain peace and security.

This is as the military comprising the Commanding Officer 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Effurun waded into the lingering boundary crisis.

It was gathered that the intervention of the military into the bloody boundary dispute had caused the leadership of the two communities and other stakeholders to hold a peace parley on Saturday, 17th September 2022, at the Government House Annex at Edjeba, in Warri metropolis.

One person was confirmed shot dead on Friday morning as the inter-communal dispute over boundary demarcation between neighbouring Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities of Udu and Warri South-West Local Government Areas took a dangerous twist.

Community sources however claimed that two deaths were recorded in the early morning shooting spree which threw the entire residents of Ogbe-Ijoh into pandemonium.

During the Saturday’s peace meeting, representatives of the two communities were reportedly given the opportunities to express their grievances, at the end of which it was made clear to them that there was the need to discard all animosities and agree to a truce which they obliged.

Consequently, in the pact signed at the end of the meeting, copies of which were sighted by journalists, the leadership of the warring Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities resolved that peace should be maintained henceforth by both communities.

“Henceforth, the two communities will no longer attack each other over disputed land.

“And that should any breach of peace occur, the persons found to be involved be dealt with squarely”, the agreement stated.

The peace pact noted that even though the general security situation in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities remains relatively calm but unpredictable, “consequently, troops of Operation Delta Hawk will continue to dominate the area with patrols and show of force in conjunction with other security agencies to forestall any threats to the fragile peace”.

Three representatives from the respective community who signed the peace pact were Chief C.C.I. Whiliky, Comrade Shell Okakota Godfirst and Chief Ottoogbiru Vetah for Aladja with Chief Anthony Jolomi, Hon. Denbota Oweikpodor and Chief Lucky Oromoni for Ogbeijor. It was also signed by the Divisional Police Officers in charge of the two communities, CSP Aliyy Shaba and SP KKabiru Audu respectively.

The major decisions taken at the end of the meeting were “that the demarcation of the disputed boundary area between the two communities was to be suspended till further notice;

“That the Governor or a delegation from Delta State Government was to visit the disputed boundary area before recommencement of the demarcation exercise;

“That the leaders of the two feuding communities were to desist from threatening each other. Additionally, any leader or community member who was found culpable of breaching the truce was to be severely sanctioned in accordance with the law henceforth;

“That all arms and ammunition still being harboured in any of the communities were to be voluntarily submitted to the security agencies.”

In attendance at the meeting were representatives of the two feuding communities, the Chairman of Warri South West Local Government, representative of the Chairman Udu LGA, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Police Area Commander Burutu, Divisional Police Officers of Ogbe-Ijoh and Onwie Police Stations as well as representatives of the Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion (Rear) Effurun.

PUNCH

News

INEC Warns Against Incumbency Power Abuse In Edo, Ondo

Published

5 mins ago

May 17, 2024

Editor

Ahead of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has cautioned against the abuse of incumbency power.

Yakubu noted that a situation where a ruling party denied the opposition access to campaign spaces often resulted in a breach of peace.

He appealed for security protection for both the personnel and materials that INEC would be deploying for the upcoming elections.

The Edo State governorship election is scheduled for September 21, 2024, while the Ondo State election will be held on November 16, 2024.

The Continuous Voter Registration in both states will run simultaneously from Monday, May 27, to Wednesday, June 5, from 9 am to 3 pm daily, including weekends.

Campaigns by political parties in Edo State began on April 24, 2024, and would conclude at midnight on September 19, 2024.

Speaking on Thursday at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja, Yakubu underscored the responsibility of security agencies to ensure the enforcement of the law throughout the election period, stressing the importance of a peaceful and orderly process.

He also called on the security agencies to maintain vigilance over the electioneering process, to prevent violent attacks and negative mobilisation by political parties, candidates, and their supporters during campaigns.

He said, “We need security protection for the registrants, registration personnel, equipment, observers, and journalists that will cover the CVR exercise.

“I urge you to keep your eyes on the electioneering process to prevent violent attacks or negative mobilisation by political parties, candidates, and their supporters during their campaigns.

“Similarly, the use of the power of incumbency to deny opposition parties and candidates access to public facilities, such as radio and television stations, public buildings for campaigns and rallies, or even outdoor advertising through the imposition of excessive fees and levies often results in the breach of the peace.

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“These actions, including the mutual destruction of campaign materials and facilities, violate the provisions of Sections 91 to 97 of the Electoral Act 2022. The security agencies must ensure the enforcement of the law,” he said.

The National Security Adviser and co-chair of ICCES, Nuhu Ribadu, stressed the need for the same level of dedication and effort in the forthcoming elections as was demonstrated in previous ones.

Ribadu highlighted the importance of strategic deployment, cautioning against overwhelming the system with excessive numbers.

Represented by the Director of Internal Security in the ONSA, Hassan Abdullahi, the NSA said, “The same efforts for the previous elections would be extended to the forthcoming elections.

“However, we need to be careful in our deployment in terms of numbers so that we will not overburden the system.”

News

JUST IN: Court Denies Binance Executive, Gambaryan Bail

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2024

Editor

A Federal High Court Abuja, on Friday denied the bail application of a crypto currency firm executive, Tigran Gambaryan.

Justice Emeka Nwite, while delivering the ruling held that the bail application is refused as he has carefully gone through the application submitted before him and resolved that the defendant will jump bail if granted.

Gambaryan, his company, Binance Holdings Limited and a fellow top executive currently on the run, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, with money laundering and terrorism financing .

Details shortly….

News

Malnutrition: UNICEF Introduces Liquid Supplement To Enhance Child Nutrient

Published

3 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Editor

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has introduced a liquid base supplement to enhance a child’s nutrient diet in order to wage war against malnutrition in Nigeria.

Mrs Philomena Irene, UNICEF’s Nutrition Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, stated this in Gombe on Thursday during a two-day media dialogue on Age-Appropriate Complementary Feeding for Children Aged 6-23 months.

According to her, the intervention was being carried out by the Progressive Action on Resilient System Through Innovation and Partnership (PARSNIP) project of UNICEF.

She however, explained that the project was being implemented in Dukku, Kaltungo and Kwame Local Government Areas of Gombe state.

She said the project basically focused on enhancing young children’s nutrient diet with the liquid base supplements, adding that the commodity is nutrient rich and has both protein, energy, 15 minerals and vitamins.

“It’s for children under the age of 6 to 23 months by adding it to their food. It was formulated for children living in severe food poverty.

“It has shown that these children living in severe food poverty can’t even have a meal in a day that is rich with five food groups which is the minimum.

“The idea is, if you give them one of the sachets of this commodity, they have taken one meal a day that is nutrient dense which contains 100 to 120 calories a day.

“It has protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins,” she said.

The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist also explained that under the project, UNICEF also helps the states to create an enabling environment, health system strengthening and improving diet and practices.