By Emma Amaize
WARR1 — THREE Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, with battle-ready anti-riot policemen and soldiers took over Ekpan community in Delta State, yesterday, following several days of skirmishes between rival community factions, which had resulted in the maiming of four  persons over a largesse of N25 million from Chevron Nigeria Limited.

An armoured tanker was deployed to the area, last week, but when shootings continued between the rival groups over the weekend, additional two were moved in yesterday morning to contain the situation.

Delta State Police Spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed to Vanguard, yesterday, that two persons were already in police net in connection with the latest disturbances in Ekpan, the hotbed of the crisis.

Divisional Police Officer, Ekpan Police Station, Mr. Mohammed Mua’zu, also told Vanguard that the two suspects would be charged to court, saying the situation had been brought under control.

A police informant said, “the people have sophisticated weapons and they have been attacking themselves. They shoot mainly in the night and a number of people have been injured. One was shot in the leg, another in the hand. They are right now in the hospital receiving treatment”.

It was gathered that Chevron approved and paid N25 million through the Ekpan Development Committee, EDC,  strictly for the empowerment of women in the community.

A source said trouble started when a powerful leader in the community, Chief Newton Agbofodoh allegedly insisted that the EDC chairman, Mr. Frank Akemu, should surrender the money, as it ought not to have passed through him in the first instance.

Chief Agbofodoh who was contacted on phone by Vanguard said N25 million was paid to the community by Chevron but said, “the correct story is that the community asked the EDC chairman to render account of the money and when that was done, they started issuing threats to people”.

Vanguard learnt that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, last Friday, summoned the leaders of the rival factions to Asaba over the tension in Ekpan and ordered that they should maintain peace.