Communal Crisis, One Dead, Properties Worth Millions Of Naira Destroyed, As Monarch Appeals For Calm
By Balogun Mabamije.
UGHELLI/Nigeria: The communal crisis that recently engulfed OPHORI-OLOMU community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State has claimed the life of Mr Cyril Omoka Egedegbe while several houses were burnt down and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
Speaking to newsmen after an on the spot assessment visit to the community yesterday, the Olomu monarch, His Royal Majesty, Ovie, Dr Richard Layeguen Ogbon, OON, Ogoni Oghoro 1, JP, The Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom appealed to residents to remain calm.
The Olomu monarch who was accompanied by Chief John Ewenede JP and other traditional Chiefs of the kingdom described the incident as unfortunate, saying that since he assumed leadership role in Olomu kingdom, such wanton killing and destruction of properties had never occurred in the kingdom.
He said Olomu kingdom was known for peace, and vowed that those involved in the dastardly act would be brought to book.
“What happened at Ophori Olomu is something we can hardly imagine or think of in Olomu kingdom.
“Since 1954 to date that I have been involved in Olomu leadership, first as President General and now king, there has never been anything like internal community crisis or intercommunity crisis in Olomu kingdom.
“But when the story got to me of what happened at Ophori, I was greatly troubled. So I felt I should go to the town and see for myself of what really happened and also to say a word of advice to the victims of the crisis,” he stated
The Olomu monarch, while condemning the action of the youths involved in the murder of Cyril, urged all Olomu people to put hands on deck to fish out the culprits and justice served them.
He also appealed to the amiable governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Ughelli South Local Government chairman, Dr Richard Kofi and well-meaning deltans to render helping hands to those who lost their properties to the crisis.
He commended officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, Otu-jeremi Division for being on ground to quell and forestall escalation of the crisis.
The father of the diseased, Mr Omoka Egedegbe, a retired military Officer said all he wanted was that the killers of his son were brought to book.
The crisis, according to a community source who craved anonymity, was caused by leadership tussle between some youths of the community who wanted the current leaders of the community whose tenure had expired to render financial account of the community to them privately before handing over.
The same sets of youths led by Mr Gideon Ewhubare, Mr Isaac Epia, Friday Degema, David Amayor and others now at large, according to the source, also wanted to install a suspected drug addict as the Spokesperson of the community to which the elders and some youths opposed.
The source disclosed that during the handing over meeting, the same sets of youths that wanted to install the suspected drug addict disrupted the meeting and at the same time attacked the elders and their supporters, and in the process killed Mr Cyril Omoka Egedegbe.
In retaliation, the mother of the diseased supported by some youths decided to burn down the houses of those involved in the killing of her son.
Reacting to the incident, the Delta State Force Public Relations Officer,(PPRO) DSP Bright Edafe confirmed though a text message.
