At least three people have been killed following a violent clash between residents of Otor-Ewu in Ughelli South Local Government Area and Edjekota in Ughelli North, Delta State, sparked by a land dispute.
Local sources told SaharaReporters that the crisis began when members of a family from Edjekota reportedly entered a contested parcel of land, which has been a point of contention between the two communities.
Efforts to avoid direct confrontation led the Otor-Ewu residents to contact the police, requesting the arrest of the individuals from Edjekota in hopes of resolving the issue through legal means.
However, the situation quickly escalated when news of the police intervention spread through the community. In response, youths from Edjekota mobilized, barricading parts of the area to prevent the police from carrying out the arrests. This led to a violent confrontation that resulted in the deaths of three individuals.
A community source provided more details, stating, “There is currently a land dispute between two families—one from Otor-Ewu in Ughelli South and Edjekota in Ughelli North. Earlier today, some members of the Edjekota family came to the contested land. We, who have always tried to avoid conflict, decided to involve the police to have those individuals arrested and have the matter resolved legally. However, as the police arrived to carry out the arrest, news of it quickly spread, and some youths from Edjekota blocked parts of the community, preventing the police from taking action. Unfortunately, this escalated into a violent clash. As of now, three people have been confirmed dead. One of the deceased is confirmed to be from Edjekota, but the identities of the other two remain unclear.”
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is ongoing.
Saharareporters
