By Emma Amaize

WARRI—THE people of Aladja community, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, blamed the state government and security agencies for the alleged temerity of their Ogbe-Ijoh neighbours in stopping government bulldozers and officials deployed to open up the disputed areas, describing the action as ridiculous.

Government had, in a bid to stem the lingering war between the two communities, deployed bulldozers to clear the vast expanse of land at the boundary to check the warriors from both sides, who use the thick bush as cover to launch attacks.

Addressing newsmen in Aladja, the traditional prime minister of the community (Oghwuvwie-Ode), Chief Photo Ogbe, flanked by leaders of the community, noted that while the Aladja end of the disputed area had been opened up in line with government directive, the Ogbe-Ijoh end had remained untouched due to actions of Ogbe-Ijoh militants.

He said: ‘’This kind of impunity exhibited by Ogbe-Ijoh people only suggests that government is most likely encouraging our neighbours to carry out their attacks on our people resulting in several deaths since the boundary dispute erupted last year. Only this year, we have been attacked several times. We were elated when government mobilized bulldozers to open up the vast land between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities, but were shocked to learn that after successfully opening up the Aladja end, they were stopped by Ogbe-Ijoh warriors/militants without consequences.”

“Several Ogbe-Ijoh youths were caught with sophisticated assault rifles, magazines and grenades, but were released supposedly on instruction from above.”