By Festus Ahon

UGHELLI—CHAIRMAN of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Kenneth Ibru, has absolved men of the Military Joint Task Force, JTF, of complicity in the Ughelli main market ownership tussle between the Otor-Iwhreko and Ekuigbo-Ughelli communities.

Ibru, in a statement by the council’s Secretary, Mr. Eugene Ighofose, frowned at what he described as a near crisis situation between the two communities, reiterating that all markets in the area belonged to the council.

The council boss noted that “At the Ughelli North Council Peace and Security meeting held in respect of this matter on December 23, 2014 it was resolved that the Ughelli Main/Goods Market and any other market in Ughelli North council, belong to Ughelli North council.

“It was resolved inter-alia, that by virtue of the fourth schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the Ughelli Main/Goods Market and any other market in Ughelli North council, belong to the Ughelli North.

“The leaders therefore, pledged to stop their respective communities from collecting revenue from traders in the said market. They also agreed that failure to abide by the constitutional provision should be seen as a breach of the Constitutional power of the council.”