Apr. 2, 2013
Four killed as Kogi community claims attack by Anambra community over oil wells -PremiumTimes
The governor of Kogi State says the crisis in oil bearing communities of Kogi and Anambra States must be stopped.
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State on Tuesday in Lokoja, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in oil bearing communities in border areas between Kogi and Anambra states.
Mr. Wada also condemned the alleged killing of four people and abduction of two others in attacks on Odeke and Echeno communities in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi by unidentified persons.
He said the situation in the border communities require urgent attention of the affected states and the Federal Government; saying the situation must be brought under control immediately.
The two communities have been at loggerheads with communities in Anambra over the location of four oil wells now being exploited by Orient Oil.
The governor appealed to leaders of the two communities who came to his office to protest against the attacks to remain calm and promised to get in touch with his Anambra counterpart to find a lasting solution to the problem.
He also promised to ensure that the two men abducted by the attackers regained their freedom as soon as possible.
He directed the deputy governor to immediately take up the matter with the appropriate quarters.
Mr. Wada promised to ensure immediate supply of food, water and other basic items to the people displaced from their homes by the attackers.
He said all necessary support would be given to the police for the maintenance of law and order in the communities.
The Spokesman for the communities, Daniel Omatola, told the governor that four of their people were killed in series of attacks recently launched by some persons suspected to be from Anambra.
He also said that two other persons from the communities were abducted by the attackers whom he said had also destroyed homes and farmlands, thereby displacing hundreds of people from their homes.
Mr. Omatola called for urgent intervention of the state government, saying that his people were finding it increasingly difficult to stand the unwarranted attacks and killings of their kinsmen.
(NAN) http://premiumtimesng.com/regional/1…oil-wells.html
Earlier, March 31st: Echonwa and Odeke people of Ibaji Local Government of Kogi State allegedly invaded the Okpali and Okpeze Aguleri-Otu communities in Anambra East Local Government, leaving 3 missing and over 200 houses burned according to SunNews
March 31st, 2013
From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha
No fewer than three persons have been reported missing in Aguleri-Otu, Anambra East Local Government during a bloody clash with its neighbour in Kogi State over boundary dispute. Sunday Sun learnt that about 200 houses were burnt and three people kidnapped, even as property worth several millions of naira were destroyed.
The Echonwa and Odeke people of Ibaji Local Government of Kogi State allegedly invaded the Okpali and Okpeze Aguleri-Otu communities in Anambra East Local Government during which the clash ensued. Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra East Local Government, Comrade Chiedu Obidigwe, confirmed the attack on Aguleri-Otu people.
He, however, described the attack as unprovoked and an invasion on his people as they were not ready for war. He accused the Kogi State government and Ibaji Local Government of fueling the war, adding: “I am personally accusing the Kogi State government and chairman of Ibaji Local Government of inciting their people against our people, as they have not done anything tangible to contain the excesses of their people. “The chairman of Ibaji Local Government has done nothing to stop his people from invading us, but I have day in, day out reached out to our people not to take up arms to avoid outright war with the people of Ibaji and Kogi at large.
“We are not interested in fighting the Echonwa and Odeke from Kogi State. They have invaded us and as I speak to you, our people have been invaded at Okpali Aguleri-Otu, and Okpeze Aguleri by Kogi people. They are burning houses and chasing our people away from their ancestral homes and land in unprovoked attacks.
“Two of our people got bullet wounds; two motorcycles were burnt with property worth several millions of naira. As at now, nobody was killed and two people were arrested and taken to the police. “We are looking for two persons from our community and police are aware of that, and the only Army and police around that place are from Anambra State.
We have not seen or heard that any Army or police from Kogi State visited there.” It was gathered that the two truckload of the Nigerian Army guiding the Orient Oil locations could not do much as they had no brief to quell the war-mongers. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/mayhem-returns-to-anambra-community-3-missing/