At least one person has been reportedly killed and 18 others — including a Senior Secondary School 1 student — injured in fresh hostility between Aladja community in Udu and Ogbe-Ijoh community in Warri South West Council areas of Delta State.
The clash was reportedly occasioned by the lingering boundary dispute between both communities.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning, was said to have led to panic in both communities as residents scampered for safety during the exchange of gunfire which lasted for over four hours before security operatives brought the situation under control.
It was gathered that mobile policemen stationed in the area to maintain peace fled their duty posts following the exchange of fire by the communities.
Although it was not clear what led to the Tuesday’s attack, both communities were also engaged in verbal attacks as Aladja claimed that Ogbe-Ijoh launched their attacks with sophisticated and dangerous weapons, including traditional charms which allegedly led to the death of one person,
while 15 others sustained injuries.
Ogbe-Ijoh, on the other hand, claimed that Aladja youths were first to invade their community with shootings which left three persons — including an SS1 student identified as Prosper Derin — severely injured following news that council workers were about to resume works months after the crisis started in the area.
Confirming the attack to our correspondent, Aladja Community Youth Leader, Wisdom Onatomre, alleged that youths from Ogbe-Ijoh launched the attack on the community at about 7:30am on Tuesday, adding that one Reuben Ilolo was killed in the process.
Onatomre added that they were woken up from sleep by gunshots from the Ogbe-Ijoh end of the community, saying that before they could be repelled, one person has been killed, and 15 others critically injured.
“One person has been killed as we speak. His name is Reuben Ilolo; and over 15 persons have been injured with gun wounds.
“The armed Ogbe-Ijoh youths entered Aladja with sophisticated and dangerous weapons through the Ogbe-Ijoh end of the Aladja.
“They also planted some charms on the ground. They started the attack and we were caught unawares.
“Government should come and save us from this oppression,” the Aladja community youth leader added.