In order to truly end the long-standing conflict between them and their Ogbe-Ijoh neighbors, the Aladja Community in Delta State’s Udu Local Government Area today urged the state government to do so. The community is mourning the loss of its fallen heroes in the conflict, which began in 1996 and has continued ever since.
Shell GodFirst Okakotu, president of the Aladja Community Council, made the call in memory of their fallen heroes.
Okakotu urged the Delta State Government to take swift action and end the fighting between the two villages.
The community leader declared, “We need peace,” while pointing out that no community or State can develop via conflict.
He prayed for the State Government to assist in looking into the situation and for peace to return to the two local governments and communities.
He emphasized that the purpose of honoring their departed heroes was to inspire the Aladja youth and reassure them of the Community’s support for them.
In a conversation with Our Correspondent, Mr. Benson Doro, the Warefare Chairman of the Aladja Community, pleaded with the Delta State Government to resolve the land issue between the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh Communities, restore peace, and put an end to the slaughter of their indigenous people.
Mr. Doro remarked that the two at war communities gain nothing positive from the conflict.
Mr. Doro said, “They should make every effort to create harmony between the two populations.”
He claimed that since the Ogbe-Ijoh Community conflict in 1996, the community’s youth and children have been celebrating the lives of their indigenous people who have passed away.
Mr. Doro said the event was an annual one but noted that the situation was still present. Every year on December 30th, we commemorate those who have died in service.
Mr. Jerry Ruerihor, an Aladja Community native who also spoke with Our Correspondent, supported the Warefare Chairman’s views and urged the Delta State Government to mediate a settlement between the two communities and protect the native residents’ lives.
Commercial operations were suspended today in Aladja Community because locals were forbidden from leaving the city to pay respects to the dead soldiers, according to our correspondent who was present. As a result, commercial tricycles and motorbikes were prohibited from working.
Additionally, commercial speed boats were not permitted to navigate the Community’s waterways. The entire commercial district was shuttered.
The back-dressed indigenous people kicked off the events with a rally from the Aladja Community Town Hall, followed by a march to the Aladja Community Waterside, and then a march through the town’s main thoroughfares while they sung songs of support.
At the Aladja Arcade, which is adjacent to Evwrirhe Primary School in the Aladja Community, the rally came to an end.
