The people of Uweye community in Uzere Kingdom of Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, have called on the state government to intervene in the lingering crisis rocking the community and  release their leaders,  who were arrested and are being kept at Kwale prison.

Uweye community, in a statement by Pa James Ukeko and four others, accused the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Oleh Police station, of compromising his official position, leading to the arrest and detention of the leaders of the community at Kwale prison.

The statement recalled that the community leaders in council resolved to lease one of their lakes to private harvesters so as to raise funds and consequently, the sum of N500,000 was realised and shared among all stakeholders in Uzere Kingdom, but on February 14, 2013 some persons allegedly entered and stole fish from the lake.

He said, the people were apprehended and brought to the town by the forest security guards and on the orders of the leaders of the community, they were handed over to the police, but the next day, the police arbitrarily released the suspects.

“On February 20, 2013 some Uweye community leaders, who were at a Delta State High  Court, Oleh over a lingering matter concerning the community were arrested by the police  in the court premises and all attempts to get them released were rebuffed by the DPO.

“Despite an appeal by the Chairman of the local government area,  Engr Goodluck Idele, for their release, the DPO went ahead and charged them to court on trumped up charges of attempted murder leading to their being remanded at Kwale prisons.”