Chief Friday Abaja and the JTF Commander at the proposed boundary of both Communities
The peace meeting to resolve the lingering crises between the communities of Ibabu in Ndokwa west and Iselegu in Ndokwa East was disrupted when in the course of the meeting an emissary from the Delta State Police Headquarters, Asaba came to invite the members of one of the warring communities to Asaba for a supposed meeting with the state government.
The settlement meeting which was initiated by Enyi Friday Abaja of Umukwata Kingdom, started on Saturday 5 July, 2014. In the meeting the two communities agreed in principle to adjust the boundaries to after the Ibabu Primary School, which had been closed due to the long time war and the parties will physically mark the boundaries on Sunday July 6, 2014 by 9am. However, the people of Ibabu reneged on the already agreement and failed to appear at the appointed time of the meeting.
However, our correspondent at the venue of the meeting reported that the refusal of the Ibabu community did not deter the team of negotiators from seeking for peace, the team went to Ibabu to discuss with the community and have a lasting solution to the lingering crises, but as the meeting was holding at Ibabu Town Hall a message came that the deputy Commissioner of Police is to join in the discussion and he was on his way to the Venue. However on the arrival at the venue, it was an officer from the State Criminal Department, who came with the message that the meeting should be shifted to the State Police Headquarters, Asaba, with instruction that they should bring to the meeting the people of Ibabu who are in the meeting.
The new development took all the parties involved by surprise because at this stage, it was expected that once the people of Ibabu and Iselegu agrees to the new deal, a document will be prepared and signed in the presence of all parties, security and media men, but this was not achieved, as the arrival of the police from Asaba saw the taken away of the Okpala-Uku of Ibabu and his entire Chiefs to Asaba and other members of the Community.
Chief Friday Abaja Angry
The new twist to the peace settlement has angered the peace initiator, Chief Friday Abaja, the Enyi of Umukwata. He sees the police action as a slap and considered the implication to his personality. During the meeting he had earlier voiced out that the people of Ibabu has accused him of meddling in the affairs of the community and they should be left alone. The notable chief and Philanthropist who insisted that the main boundary issue be settled before going to Asaba refused vehemently to join in the trip to Asaba, and insisted that the peace can only be settled through dialogue and not by force. Despite his appeal, in the presence of the JTF commander Lieutenant Colonel K.E Chigbu, the DPO of Kwale, ASP Ime Udofia, the Transition Chairman of the Ndokwa West LGA, the Secretary to the Ndokwa East LGA.
Submit Your Guns, JTF Warns
The commander of the Joint Task force in the area of conflict between Iselegu in Ndokwa East and Ibabu in Ndokwa west has asked the two warring parties to submit their weapons so that peace will reign. Lieutenant Colonel K.E Chigbu gave this warning during the peace meeting held with the Ibabu community at their town Hall. According to the JTF commander, peace will not reign unless the warring parties submit all the weapons in their possessions. He told the people of Ibabu, that all Nigerians are one and the act of conflict does not show brotherly love. He therefore appealed to them to submit all weapons so that the government will not be angry with the community.
Earlier, the Transition Chairman of the Ndokwa West LGA Engr Emmanuel Okwaji had told the people of Ibabu that the government had given both communities a limited time to submit their weapons, to allow for peace. The chairman stressing the need for peace said that the people of Ibabu had so far submitted 8 guns compared to that of Iselegu of 40 guns. He told them that all the governor wants is for the parties to shield their sword by submitting the weapons and nobody will be victimized.
Engr Okwaji, reminded the people of the previous days agreement that was reached and the peace initiator, Chief Friday Abaja submitted to offset the cost of the burnt and destroyed buildings in both communities, with a unity school at the boundary between the two communities.
Meanwhile, it had been learnt that a peaceful settlement of the crises may not be achieved, except the Igili Amai community is involved in the peace discussion as the history of the Ibabu community is tied to Igili Amai.
It could be remembered that recently one of the illustrious sons of Ndokwa Nation and Chairman of the Ndokwa Neku Union, (NNU) committee charged to negotiate for the settlement of the lingering crises; Prof Okpilike of Delta State University, Abraka was recently killed by a stray bullet at the popular Iselegu Junction on his way from Kwale. The Late professor died of bullet wounds and his sister who was riding in the same vehicle sustained bullet wound.
