The people of Uzere in Delta State have denied media reports, alleging that the crisis rocking the community was political and sponsored by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia(rtd).

The community, in a statement by its President-General, Chief Emeakpor Owhe, said the reports were spurious, unfounded and should be disregarded.

He said Uzere people’s protest of November 29, 2011 was purely over the demand of the people for a Memorandum of Understanding with Shell Petroleum Development Company, alleging that the embattled king had continued to thwart their efforts because he was a contractor to one of the oil companies.

“We are happy that Delta State Government has seen through the antics of the embattled king as he has lost touch with his people and as such, his claims should be disregarded,” Owhe said.

He explained that the recent crisis in Uzere was over the arrest of some persons who went to illegally fish in one of the community’s lakes, but that the police in Oleh,  compromised and released the suspects, but went round to arrest the complainants, charged them for attempted murder and detained them at Kwale prisons.

He alleged that supporters of a prominent person in the community, thereafter, imported mercenaries to the community, who killed an Uzere youth and the spontaneous reaction that followed was the rampage that trailed the recent crisis.