Warring Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Udu and Warri Southwest council areas of Delta State have signed a peace treaty following renewed shootings that claimed an Ogbe-Ijoh indigene, Frank Amakiri at the weekend.
The communities, which have been enmeshed in a lingering boundary dispute, came to a truce at a peace and security meeting at the Government House Annex, Edjeba in Warri South LGA, at the weekend.
The meeting had representatives of the feuding communities, Chairman of Warri Southwest LGA, representative of Udu LGA chairman, Delta State Police Commissioner, Special Adviser to Governor of Ifeanyi Okowa on Peace and Conflict Resolution, the representative of the Commanding Officer 3 Battalion (Rear) Effurun among others, in attendance.
A copy of the signed agreement cited by The Nation listed Chief C. C. Whiliki, Comrade Shell Okakota, Chief Udumuroh Segba and Chief Otto Ogbiruveta as signatories for Aladja, while Chief Anthony Jolomi, Hon Denbofa Oweikpodor and Chief Lucky Oromoni signed for Ogbe-Ijoh community.
The statement titled: “Peace Accord,” read: “It is resolved that henceforth, the Aladja community and Ogbe-Ijoh community will no longer attack each other over the disputed land.
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“And should any breach of peace occur, the persons found to be involved be dealt with squarely.
“Therefore, peace should be maintained henceforth by both communities”.
Representatives of both communities were given opportunity to express their grievances after which they were tasked to shun all animosities and agree to the truce.
Other resolutions reached at the meeting are that “the demarcation of the disputed boundary area between the two communities was to be suspended till further notice.
“The Executive Governor or a delegation from Delta State Government was to visit the disputed boundary area before recommencement of the demarcation exercise.
“The leaders of the two feuding communities were to desist from threatening each other. Additionally, any leader or community member who was found culpable of breaching the truce was to be severly sanctioned in accordance with the law henceforth.
“All arms and ammunition still being harboured in any of the communities were to be voluntarily submitted to the security agencies”.
Though there is relative calm in the communities, troops of Operation Delta Hawk are still on patrol in the area to forestall any threat.