Yenagoa — Bayelsa State government has ordered the immediate deployment of troops in the troubled cape Formosa Island off the Atlantic coast of Brass where nine persons were feared dead with several houses razed in the wake of the escalating tension between Liama and Egweama over a disputed oil rich location both communities are claiming ownership.

The troop strength to be drawn from the Mopol base in Yenagoa, the state capital, is to be complemented by men of the Nigerian Navy stationed at Egweama, some distance away from the Egweama-Ogbo, the ancient settlement of Egweama, sacked by rampaging armed youths allegedly sponsored by their foes from Liama.

Although only two of the corpses of those reportedly killed have been recovered and buried, the whereabouts of the remaining seven persons could not be immediately ascertained by the Egweama community chiefs.

The brewing tension between both sisters' communities reached a climax last Saturday leading to the out break of hostilities when three youths from Liama were allegedly kidnapped and beaten to pulp by suspected youths from Egweama while accompanying a tug boat carrying rig belonging to Emerald Energy Oil Services to the disputed oil rich land.

Angered by the development, the youths from Liama were said to have launched a reprisal attack on the ancient settlement of Egweama known as Egweama-Ogbo leading to the death of nine persons with several houses destroyed.

There was palpable tension on Sunday when the state deputy governor, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi, amidst tight security led a high powered government delegation including the state deputy commissioner of police and Mopol commander to the near deserted communities as some of the battle ready youths were seen with fire arms as well as tying charms on their bodies while some of the elderly, especially women were also seen fleeing their homes with their few belongings

An enraged Ebebi who visited both communities already deserted said government has no option than to deploy troops in the troubled spot so as to prevent reprisal attack. He urged both communities to embrace peace, warning that government would not condone any act of lawlessness on the part of its citizenry especially at a time it has expended enormous resources to enthrone peace in all the nooks and crannies of the state. His words: "We are not sleeping. We are not happy with the situation on the ground. Why should two brothers be fighting over oil well that they don't even know the quantity?"

The crude will finish one day, not even too long. What we are particular about is peace and people should endeavour to live together in peace."

Reacting to the allegation of the chairman Egweama council of chiefs, over the insensitivity of the government to the plight of the people in the area, most especially the strained relationship between the two communities, the deputy governor said governance is a serious business and everybody has to be involved including the traditional rulers.

"The traditional rulers too have a role to play most especially in resolving the communal crises," he said and called on the people to guard against what happened at both Odi and Odioma.

He added that government was compelled to deploy armed troops to the area so as to forestall further destruction of lives and property and also called on the leadership of both communities to cooperate with the troop as well as reining in their youths.

Earlier, the Chairman to the Egweama Council of Chiefs, O.A. Basuten had blamed the people of Liama for crisis describing as the aggressors.

He said the land in question belongs to Egweama and not Liama as being claimed and therefore called on the government to wade into the matter stressing that most of their people have run away.

Countering the position of the people of Egweama, the Chairman Liama Council of Chiefs, Chief Loveday said the problem was as result fishing settlement where crude oil was discovered.

He said that three of their youths were kidnapped and beaten by the suspected youths from Egweama while accompanying a tug boat to the rig, and our youths also went for reprisal attack which led to the burning down of Egweama-ogbo but could not ascertained whether any life was lost.