By Emma Amaize

WARRI—Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, has  averted bloodshed between Orugbene and Afougbene communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Vanguard learnt that tension mounted following the attack on Orugbene community leader, Chief Johnbull Febakumor, by suspected Afougbene youths, who laid siege to Burutu River with two speed boats and  stopped  boats conveying passengers.

Reports said the youths, armed with wood and other  dangerous weapons, pounced on Febakumor, accusing him of standing as a witness in a land dispute between Afougbene and Ogulagha communities.

Chief Febakumor, who spoke to Vanguard from his hospital bed in Warrri, yesterday, said: “It is God that saved my life, they almost killed me. On Monday morning, two speedboats carrying about seven persons each stopped the passenger boat that was carrying me alongside others and they started beating me.

“I asked them why they were beating me and they said I was a witness in the land dispute between Afougbene and Ogulagha communities. If not for the JTF, they would have killed me.”

Tension rose between both communities because of the incident, but soldiers mounted surveillance on the waterways and saved the situation from degenerating.