Delta community shutdown over killing of 12 indigenes
• Demands white paper from Gov Okowa on land dispute
By Michael J. Ekokoruwe
Oleh community in Isoko South local government area of Delta State was shut down on Thursday as residents staged a peaceful protest over the silence of the State Government on the killing of about 12 indigenes.
The community demanded a white paper from Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State over land dispute with a neighbouring community, Ozoro.
The Trumpet reports that Economic and social activities were paralyzed as the community women, men and youths in their numbers blocked major roads within the metropolis and Oleh roundabout / Asaba express road, over land dispute and the loss of Oleh 12 indigenes that were gruesomely murdered on the 16th of October, 2020.
The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions such as “Governor Okowa release the white paper between Oleh and Ozoro to enable the families of the dead bury their sons and daughters” and “Oleh community is tired of crisis between Oleh and Ozoro”.
Others include, “We do not need more bloodshed between Oleh and Ozoro”, “Okowa hear Oleh community cry now”, “the report of the judicial panel of inquiry has been submitted since May 2021”, and “We want to bury our 12 sons that are still in the mortuary”.
Speaking to newsmen, the President General of Oleh Community, Chief Believe Alakri said, the report of land dispute between Oleh and Ozoro, killing of the 12 Oleh indigenes submitted to governor Okowa since May 2021 white paper has not been released, adding that both communities are still engaged in land encroachment.
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He maintained that the same protest was carried out by Ozoro community to avoid further crisis between the two communities. Alakri noted that the dead bodies lying in the mortuary must be buried and demanded justice for the 12 Oleh indigenes that were murdered.
The President General reiterated that the release of the white paper by Governor Okowa will specify where to bury the 12 people, adding that the parents and children of the dead are crying as their bodies are yet to be buried.
“We voted for Governor Okowa and he will not allow us to die in crisis. We need peace in Oleh as people cannot go to their farms for fear of being killed by land grabbers,” Alakri said.
On her part, the woman leader of Oleh community, Mrs Itewor Juliana, commended Okowa for setting up the panel of inquiry, which has since submitted its report.
She appealed to Okowa to release the white paper for peace and justice, adding that Oleh community would neither go to war nor take part in bloodshed. She, however, stressed that the community wants to bury her 12 indigenes that were hacked to death for no fault of theirs, adding that their butchered bodies still lie in the mortuary.
