At least two individuals have lost their lives, and homes and shops were looted and destroyed in a communal clash between the Opolo and Okutukutu communities of the Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State
The clash on Monday was allegedly a retaliation against Opolo indigenes, stemming from a previous incident where they reportedly carried out a similar attack on Okutukutu locals.
This dispute revolves around ancestral boundaries of their communal land, as disclosed by a source.
Trouble began when certain Opolo natives ventured onto the disputed land and were reportedly assaulted by their neighbors, who alleged that they had crossed their boundaries
The disputed land was challenged in court, but the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of the Opolo community
Some Opolo indigenes stated that the ongoing strife between the two fraternal communities is unnecessary, given their long history of peaceful coexistence for many years, predating the establishment of Bayelsa State and the emergence of Yenagoa as the state capital.
Kester Wilcox, the youth president of the Okutukutu community, clarified that it was the youths of the Opolo community who initiated the attack on the Okutukutu community.
This led to the destruction of property belonging mainly to outsiders before the affected property owners mobilized themselves and retaliated
He mentioned that the exact casualty figures were currently unknown, he appealed to the youths of both the Okutukutu and Opolo communities, as well as the outsiders residing in both areas, to prioritize peace.
He emphasized that peace is indispensable for the accelerated development of the region.
He acknowledged the longstanding boundary issue between the two communities but emphasized that it should not escalate into violent attacks on innocent people.
Police Spokesman in Bayelsa State, ASP Musa Muhammed, who confirmed the crisis, stated that personnel from the tactical team of the command had been deployed to the conflict zones to restore peace and calm
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government has affirmed the land dispute and expressed condolences for the tragic loss of lives in the violent attack.
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Mr. Doubara Atasi, condemned the attack and instructed relevant security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators for prosecution.
He emphasized that the present administration would not tolerate any instances where individuals or communities engage in violence or physical assaults over territorial or land boundary disputes, particularly when such matters are under consideration in the court of competent jurisdiction.
He appealed to the conflicting communities to refrain from violence as the state government is actively working towards resolving the issue. This includes hosting an urgent meeting with the leaders of the affected communities in his office by 3pm on Tuesday, February 20, 2024
He conveyed sincere condolences for the loss of lives and property in the incident and pledged that the government would exhaust all efforts within its authority to ensure justice for the affected families.
Kanyi Daily recalls that a fatal clash unfolded between two communities in Kogi State, resulting in the death of one person, and more than 70 houses were set ablaze.
