Delta community protests killing of 12 people, as Okowa assures of justice

INDIGENES of Oleh Community, yesterday, protested the killing of 12 people by unknown gunmen, following boundary dispute between Oleh and Ozoro community in Delta State.

The protest took place despite the intervention of the state government on the boundary dispute between the two communities.

The protest caused serious gridlock along the busy Ughelli- Asaba- Ozoro Road and forced some motorists and commuters to take alternative routes.

The victims were gruesomely murdered on October 12, 2021 on their farmland in Oleh by gunmen suspected to be from Ozoro community.

The state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, had at the quarterly media interaction in Asaba , said it was unfortunate that 12 people were killed in the incident, assuring that government was aware of the killings.

He added that the issue was discussed at Exco level, where Judicial panel of enquiry was set up to look into it and advised President General of the community to talk to his people to maintain peace before the final resolution.

But, indigenes of Oleh community, in Isoko South Local Council, who were grieving, while the victims were about to be laid to rest, barricaded all entry points and blocked other major roads in the community.

The protesters, mostly youths and women, shut all shops, markets, banks, and social and commercial activities at Oleh community, while businesses in Ozoro community were operating skeletally.

The protesters called on the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to fulfill his promise of bringing all those involved in the murder to justice.

The two Isoko communities have been at loggerheads for some time, following a lingering boundary dispute that has defied all efforts to resolve the issue.