Iselegu, Ibadu Communities resume hostilities

By: Jawa Nanna

Iselegu community in Ndokwa East local government and Ibadu community in Ndokwa West local government both in Delta State have resumed their age long battle over a piece of land, Fresh Angle can authoritatively report.

Both communities who claim ownership of the disputed land had many times fallen out resulting to huge financial involvement and stress to the chairman of both Local Government Areas. In the past battles, sources reveal to our correspondent that death were not recorded but few property were lost and a building in Iselegu was raised by fire.

Our correspondent reports that early this month, Iselegu people invaded a small village in Ibadu and destroyed 11 buildings, leaving many people homeless, but no life was lost. This, we gathered was a retaliation for the burnt building in Iselegu last year.

In the early hours of Wednesday May 5, a young man purported to be an indigene of Onuaboh in Ndokwa East local government was killed by stray bullet while he was waiting for a taxi at Iselegu junction.

A driver of CCC Road Construction Company as well as the granite suppliers to CCC from Edo State also received bullet wounds from the warring communities. As at the time of this report, 5 of them were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

A source who prefers anonymity told Fresh Angle that later same day, Iselegu invaded their warring opponent and many lives were feared dead.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ndokwa West local government, Hon. Owete and his Ndokwa East counterpart, Hon. Elder Chike Ugwunmadu are running helter-skelter in search of a lasting solution to the growing feud.

Fresh Angle can also report that there has been constant shooting and shelling at night by both communities but the extent of causalities could not be ascertained as at press time.

The CCC soldiers and Officers of the Joint Tax Force (JTF) are presently parading the area, thus making it possible for vehicles to ply the Kwale-Ogwashu-Uku road.

Our correspondent also gathered that Ossissa community as a close neighbour to both communities at war, had earlier sent reconciliatory delegations to the warring communities as the killing of any stranger may attract war from that community in addition to the one they are facing.