According to a source who pleaded for anonymous said, this clash is a retaliation attack on Opolo indigenes after several years they carried out same attack on Okutukutu indigenes over dispute on ancestral boundaries of their communal land. This conflicts started when some indigenes of Opolo went to the land and were attacked by their neighbors who claimed they were going beyond their boundaries.

Our correspondent, gathered that, the disputed land was challenged in court, but the supreme court ruled in favour of Opolo community recently.

Indigenes of Opolo, disclosed to newsmen that, the fight between the two communities are unnecessary as they have been living together in peace for several years, even before the creation of Bayelsa State and emergence of Yenagoa as the state capital.

The youth president of Okutukutu Community, Kester Wilcox, said, that it was actually the youths of Opolo Community that attacked Okutukutu Community and started destroying property belonging to mostly strangers, before those property owners mobilised themselves and also retaliated.

He said, the casualty figures could not be ascertained at the moment, but, urged both the youths of Okutukutu and Opolo Communities, as well as strangers residing in both communities to embrace peace, as peace is priceless for accelerated development. They have been age-long boundary issue between the two communities, but didn’t reason that it should snowball into violent attack on the innocent people.

The Police Spokesman in Bayelsa State, ASP Musa Muhammed, who confirmed the crisis, said, men from the tactical team of the command have been dispatched to the warring areas to restore peace and calm.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government have confirmed the land dispute and the unfortunate lose of lives in the violent attack.

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, through his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, condemned the attack and directed relevant security agencies to fish out the perpetrators for prosecution.

He warned, that the present administration would not condone a situation where individuals or communities resort to violence and physical attacks over territorial or land boundary disputes, more so when such matters are pending in the law court of competent jurisdiction.

He urged the feuding communities to shield their swords as the state government is taking every necessary step to resolve the issue, including an emergency meeting with leadership of the affected communities in his office .

He expressed deep regrets over the loss of lives and property from the incident, and assured the bereaved families that government would do everything within its powers to ensure that justice was served.

By Owunna Goodness, Bayelsa

The post Two killed, Properties Looted In Bayelsa Communal Clash first appeared on National Ambassador News.

The war which have lasted for a period of time due to disagreement on non non-payment of land royalty from the Tiv settlers to the Yache-Ijiegu community witnessed an ugly situation resulting in the killing of an Army officer involved in the peacekeeping of the area.

According to one of the Soldiers Lt. Alex, they were sent to return to normalcy in the areas only for them to lose one of their colleagues due to constant inciting and attacks by both communities.

The recent happening has resulted in the arrest of some youths of the Yache-Ijiegu community by the soldiers even youths that were receiving treatment in the hospital were not left out on the arrest as the soldiers were angry for losing their members.

It was gathered that the Soldiers had earlier invited both Communities for a peace meeting but the Tiv settlers refused to attend instead they were still planning for a fresh attack, which made the soldiers angry.

A Commissioner in the State who is an indigene of Yache-Ijiegu, Senator Stephen Odey have to Intervene in the matter pleading with the Commander in charge of Ogoja Barracks for peaceful settlement to prevent his Soldiers attacking the people for losing one of their colleagues.

The post Communal Clash Between Yache- Ijiegu Community and Tiv Settlers Intensify first appeared on National Ambassador News.

The Communities, Banekaba, Ijama, Ugaga and Igbekurekor in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State were involved in a boundary Communal clash that claimed lives and left many injured as well as destroyed properties.

To make it easier for the security agencies to intervene in the crisis, the Governor has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the Areas and warned the people to obey it strictly in their interest.

The Governor has as well pleaded with the people of the Communities to give peace a chance and settle the differences, and also directed the State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to victims.

The dusk-to-dawn curfew which was released by Governor Otu’s Spokesperson, Emmanuel Ogbeche was necessary according to the Governor to help restore normalcy in the Areas.

The post Otu Gives Traditional Rulers Ultimatum to Restore Peace in Cross River first appeared on National Ambassador News.