SAN FRANCISCO, July 29, (THEWILL) – A fresh crisis has erupted in Ugborodo, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State as irate youths in the community are allegedly ‘engaging’ returnees in a free-for-all after the peace deal instituted in the area collapsed.
The confrontation which started weekend was said to have snowballed into a major clash on Monday as rival youths unleash mayhem on each other properties in Ugborodo and Warri main town.
Several property worth millions of naira were said to have been burnt by the youths who targeted the property of their rivals.
THEWILL learnt the latest crisis started after the a youth group loyal to one David Tonwe, one of the arrowheads of the crisis, confronted the internally displaced persons who were returning to their community after the Delta State Government instituted a peace committee to get the people back home.
Sources said that the mob had intimidated and threatened the returnees who were being escorted to their communities by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Delta) who immediately withdrew their services to avoid bloody confrontation with the fierce looking youths.
It could be recalled that protracted crisis had enveloped the area since 2012 as a result of leadership tussle over who controls the EPZ project proposed to be sited in Ogidigben.
The hostility had led to several killings and wanton destruction of property as well as reported ‘banishment’ of some persons perceived to be in the faction of one Chief Thomas Eriyetome, a close associates of Chief Ayeri Emami, also a key player in Ugborodo.
However, several efforts by the state government to resettle the indigenes who were reportedly ‘chased out’ of the community and ensure peace in the area for the smooth take-off of the gas city project have been thwarted by the faction which had severally breached the peace accord.
THEWILL learnt that the peace agreement which includes the resettlement of the those displaced in the community collapsed weekend after the other group residing in the communities had repelled the return of the IDPs.
Reliable sources in the community said youths from Aruton, allegedly acting on instruction, had reneged in the peace pact as they threatened never to allow the returnees into their midst except their demands are met.
Sources said that the situation had degenerated Sunday evening and Monday when members of both factions resorted to reprisal attacks.
“It started yesterday, two houses were burnt in Aruton. In Ajudaigbo, they burnt one house. One of the houses burnt in Aruton belongs to the youth leader, Julius Atete. What happened was after they tried to go back to the town, but were repelled, some of the boys, in anger went to burn one of Tonwe boys’ house and in retaliation, they went after Atete house, three houses in different places; Aruton, Madangho and Ajudaigbo.
“This night (Monday) in Warri, around Ubeji, they set fire to the house of one of anti-Ayiri’s people. They said that it was Ayiri’s boys who burnt the house. The guy’s name is Ofe. Although the house was not completely burnt down because they used water from his swimming pool to quench the fire, but they burnt two of his cars, ” a local source disclosed.
One of the returnees, Isaac Botosan, said the development was a clear indication that the peace deal had collapsed, a development which, he said, could prompt the state government to take any drastic action to restore peace to the area.
Botosan who accused the David Tonwe faction of allegedly breaching the peace agreement also called for the immediate dissolution of the peace committee constituted by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan , to broker peace in the area. He said the purpose of the committee was already defeated since one faction had persistently refused to ‘shift grounds’.
He maintained that residents of the area are already frustrated by the protracted crisis in the area, saying the Aruton (Ode-Ugborodo) youths had for the third time confronted the Navy for attempting to return the displaced persons back to their communities in line with the peace agreement both factions earlier reached.
Botosan, who is the Vice Chairman to the Eyeritomi-led Ugborodo Community Trust and member of the EPZ Committee, however called “for full militarisation of the community” saying the security authorities should bring those still formenting trouble to book.”
In his reactions, Alex Eyengho, a member of the Ugborodo EPZ Committee, said : “There is now a feeling among some persons in the committee that even the EPZ Committee should be dissolved.
“They say the essence of the committee was to bring both warring factions together and usher in peace. So if after the Federal Government has brokered peace and the youths are still making trouble, it is a failure of the committee which should be reconstituted.”
Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Delta, Captain Musa Gemu, who led the Naval team’s mission to resettle the displaced persons, expressed frustration at the attitude of Aruton youths and leaders , saying there is no indications that the people want peace in Ugborodo.
“This is not the first time. I met with leaders of the two sides the day before. They assured on being on ground to take the lead as all the displaced persons are led back home in peace. On the agreed Saturday, only Isaac Botosan and Ayiri Emami of Thomas Ereyitomi bloc were on hand to lead the displaced persons to Ogidigben and Ajudaigbo where they are in control.
“David Tonwe, who gave his word never showed up to talk to the boys at Aruton to resettle displaced persons there. These same youths at Madangho and Aruton who refused to allow displaced persons return home also scared people from leaving to Ogidigben and Ajudaibo.
“It is not like the Aruton youths can resist the Navy. Applying force now is not the spirit of the peace process. So I asked my men to pull back. I went in with just two men and interacted with the community elders and youths. Their feeling is that the said displaced persons committed sacrilege against the community and they need to appease the land and atone for their action before being allowed back in the community,” he explained.
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