Fresh tension erupted in Rivers State on Thursday night as heavy shooting in Eleme and Okrika disrupted activities around Refinery Junction near the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex, following a renewed boundary dispute between the neighbouring communities. The incident forced residents, motorists and business owners to flee for safety as security operatives moved in to contain the situation.
Key Highlights
Heavy shooting reported at Refinery Junction near the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Security agencies barricaded the East-West Road following the clashes.
Businesses shut down as residents and motorists fled the area.
Allegations of fresh land encroachment fuelled renewed hostilities.
No official confirmation of casualties as normalcy gradually returned.
Security agencies and the Rivers State Government had yet to issue an official statement at the time of filing this report.
Sources told The Trumpet that the violence began on Thursday afternoon, prompting security operatives to barricade the busy East-West Road at Refinery Junction, a critical route linking Eleme, Okrika and several neighbouring communities.
The road closure disrupted movement for commuters travelling to Akwa Ibom State, the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, and other parts of Rivers State. Many motorists were forced to seek alternative routes through adjoining Eleme communities.
Business owners operating around the junction hurriedly shut their shops as panic spread across the area, while residents scampered for safety amid reports of sustained gunfire.
Community sources attributed the renewed conflict to allegations of fresh land encroachment by individuals from Okrika, who were accused of moving into disputed territory within Eleme and erecting permanent structures.
Some residents of Eleme alleged that one of those involved in the disputed development is the Chief Armourer of the Okochiri Kingdom in Okrika. However, The Trumpet could not independently verify the allegation.
The Chairman of the Joint Community Relations Committee (JCRC) at the refinery, Comrade Timothy Mgbere, who hails from Eleme, alleged that a patrol vehicle reportedly used by the individual was set ablaze by angry youths during the confrontation at Refinery Junction.
Residents also alleged that women from Eleme, many of whom depend on farming for their livelihoods, have faced repeated harassment while cultivating land in the disputed area. They further claimed that crops have been destroyed during previous confrontations.
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As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of deaths or injuries resulting from the latest clash, although residents reported that calm had gradually returned following the intervention of security personnel.
Some community leaders in Eleme also alleged that the implementation of the White Paper on the long-standing Eleme-Okrika boundary dispute has been delayed for years. They further claimed that political influence has contributed to the delay. These claims could not be independently verified.
The Eleme-Okrika boundary dispute has persisted for decades and has resulted in several violent confrontations. One of the deadliest clashes occurred in 1999 during the administration of former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, when numerous lives were reportedly lost.
At the time of this report, neither the Rivers State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement on the incident.
