The people of the Ase-Omuku community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State have said there is palpable fear and anxiety in the community on the alleged plot to invade and arrest indigenes on trumped-up charges.

A prominent leader in the community, Chief Okwudili Obi, in a statement on Wednesday, December 29, said the alleged plot to invade and arrest was in view to install dissident community members who refused to abide by the peaceful resolution of the Delta State government.

He recalled how the Police invaded the community and arrested him (Chief Okwudili Obi), of the Ogbue family, being a signatory to the peace agreement, signed between the Ogbue family and the Onyeonwu family.

According to him, “the crisis that occurred in the community between the Ogbue and Onyeonwu families started when Francis Obi (younger brother to Chief Okwudili Obi) on the November 19, 2013 was brutally murdered in front of Policemen who came with the deceased to investigate a case of arson by groups suspected to be Onyeanwu family members”.

He said this crisis was eventually resolved by the Delta State Government, adding that his arrest and detention was uncalled for, unnecessary and condemnable, and presently down with stroke as a result of the arrest and detention.

“We are calling on the Inspector General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police to caution their officers and men not to interfere in the affairs of Ase-Omuku community. The Inspector-General of Police and Delta State Commissioner of Police should warn its officers and men not to invade our community to arrest innocent indigenes over a matter that has been peacefully resolved by the Delta State Government.

“The police is to maintain peace and order, protect lives and property. The Police is to remain unbiased, uncompromised and pursue justice at all times. We are totally against any move or plot to further invade Ase-Omuku community to arrest our people over trumped-up charges,” he said.

He appealed to the Delta State Commissioner of Police to prevent any further invasion and illegal arrest as such could cause communal crisis in the community, insisting that they are peace-loving and law-abiding people, and therefore, we condemn any plot to invade the community again by the Police to arrest innocent indigenes on an issue already resolved by Delta State Government.

“We, Ase-Omuku community, once again appreciates the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, for the peaceful resolution of the crisis in the community’ The Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, intervened and on 24th March 2020, both families signed an agreement to live peacefully, work together as it relates to the operations of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company SEEPCO in our community”

“We have also agreed to comply with the agreement signed by both families on 24 March 2020, and witnessed by Delta State Government, represented by the SA on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution,” the community said.

Courtesy (excluding headline) Daily Independent