Ijaw, Urhobo youths seek end to Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh clashes

The Youth wings of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) have canvassed a lasting solution to the lingering boundary disputes between the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State.

They said Aladja, an Urhobo community in Udu Local Council and Ogbe-Ijoh, an Ijaw enclave in Warri South West Local Council, should end their age-long crisis through genuine dialogue.

Another boundary dispute between both communities erupted again last week resulting in the killing of one person, while several others were injured.

The inter communal crisis had claimed over 23 lives since 1995 with properties worth millions of naira destroyed and had paralyzed socio-economic activities in both communities.

The groups disclosed that both parties had agreed to convene a summit aimed at resolving the crisis and reaching a peace accord with government and stakeholders.

A joint statement yesterday by the IYC and the UPU youth wings signed by their presidents, Eric Omare and Nicholas Omoko, called on the warring communities to adopt dialogue as a means of resolving the dispute instead of resorting to gun battle.

They cautioned that no amount of gun battle would produce a winner and a loser in the present circumstances, stressing that both communities would lose if they continued fighting.

The youths stated that the best option was for both communities to embrace dialogue, make compromises and work together towards restoring peace and development to their respective communities rather than engage in violence.