17 July 2008
WOMEN of Obodogugu-Ogume community in Ndokwa area of Delta State protested naked, yesterday, while no fewer than eight persons, including a policeman have been shot by armed youths in a renewed orgy of violence between the community and the people of Emu-Ebendo over negotiations with an oil company.
Also yesterday, mobile policemen took over strategic areas in Effurun on the directive of the Inspector General of Police following reports of increased criminality in Uvwie local government area.
Reports from Ndokwa said that soldiers have been deployed to the warring communities to assist the police, as the villagers were still mobilizing forces to continue with the skirmish.
Vanguard learnt that the problem between the two communities started since the 1950s and even after the Supreme Court had delivered judgment in a land case between them, tempers have still not calmed down.
But the latest crisis has to do with negotiations with an oil company, which one of the communities claiming ownership of the land, chased away from the area in 2006.
The company recently staged a come-back and agreed to pay compensation for land, but, one of the communities, claiming that the meeting was held without its representatives resisted the company's re-entry bid.
Three days ago, about 200 armed youths from the community laid ambush for members of the opposing community, who they accused of hijacking the company, and a man, a woman and a girl that went to the farm were shot.
The chairman of the local government council obtained police permit before they could be attended to in the hospital and to restore law and order, the police deployed some men to the area, but, the youths engaged the police in a gun battle.
Some of them were shot and allegedly escaped with bullet wounds, while a policeman was shot at the head. A Police Area Commander rushed to the community on getting the report but when the crisis persisted, soldiers were drafted in.
Vanguard learnt that the soldiers repelled the move of the Obodogugu youths and pushed them back to the community, but, early yesterday, women of the community protested naked while their armed youths stayed behind them.
There is tension in Ndokwa area of Delta State following a clash between Obodogugu-Ogume and Emu- Ebendo communities over negotiations with an oil company, resulting in the shooting of three persons and protest by women, who marched round naked.
The army held a meeting with some leaders of the community to maintain peace after pushing the youths back to their domain, but, there was fear, yesterday, that the crisis may escalate.
The chairman of the area, his councillors and leaders of the community were said to be holding a meeting on how to end the crisis at the time of this report.
At Effurun in Uvwie local government area, the police were searching vehicles and frisking passengers and passers by, yesterday, for weapons.
The local government has been tense since the last local government elections and disbanding of the youth leadership of the area, which the government identified to be a major source of trouble in the state.
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while it is myteriably for our women in Ndokwa area of Delta state going extence in nakedly protested for a nature gifted resources from alimghty creator. obviously i in particular blame leader to use deaf ear as much blended their eye for such to have been prevelence.
we keep on drink our own blood in exchange for oil.i think this is high time the peolpe need the government and the government need a rethink,why putting the lives of your military in risk for so many year. becuase of forign people whom have been enslaving us for our resourses. we need to creat our own technolgy so we can drill our oil and sell ourself, if not this problem will remain unsolve.if the government needs ideas we have talented nigerian that school and work in good company abroad, is time we bring our concept together as one nigeria.in unity we will always stand.and be greater that u.s.a
bekibele white onome sweden