The people of Otulu Community in Aniocha south local government area of Delta State, have sent a Save Our Souls (SOS) message to the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration over what they described as “invasion, conspiracy and power-key communal clash” allegedly supervised by His Royal Majesty (HRM) Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku kingdom.
This is contained in a petition on Tuesday September 21st 2021, signed by Prince Chris Okoli, Okoli Isikekpei and Mr. Francis Odiwanor, addressed to the State governor.
According to them, they are being oppressed, killed and about to be forced out of their community by Ogwashi-Uku, Okiti, Isele-Ekpetime, Isele-Azagba and other communities who are threatening the lives of Otulu Community members with faceless suspects for no just cause.
“That since on the 13th day of September 2021, members of Otulu Community came out enmass and protested to the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa over ceaseless acts of harassment, intimidation and torture melted on law abiding indigenes of Otulu village in their desperate bid to annihilate or coerce them to abandon their ancestral farmlands to them for not just cause.
“Our community are now facing the worst of persistent threats in the history of mankind from some faceless culprits suspected to be members of the communities they recently protested against and this exacerbating threats have now compelled members of their community to be living as fugitives in their local government for fear of their precious lives for no just cause.
“That the aforesaid community (Ogwashi-Uku), invaded Otulu Community on the 17th day of September 2021, with some armed men and started shooting sporadically, in the process of shooting one Mr. Cletus Okpala was killed and other members of the community injured and they have vowed to return in a more deadly way thereafter.
“It is premised on these foregoing facts and coupled with the fact that Otulu Community are law abiding citizens who would not like to resort to self-help that we are making this clarion call to your esteem office”, they noted.
The community called on the state governor to swiftly and decisively initiate a high powered investigation into the matter that would crystalize in “Quelling and coming to the aide of our helpless community and creating a permanent solution to this incessant communal clashes and killings”, just as the community expressed hope that their plights would be looked into by the state government.
Addressing the miffed community, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ari Muhammed Ali, flanked by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Festus Agas, charged the people to be patient.
“We are on top of the matter, we want to carry out an autopsy on the dead body so that we know the cause of the death. The dead body is with us but if you want us to release it to you people, I will just call my men and they will release it to you”, calling on them to remain calm and law abiding.
It would be recall that following the killing of an indigene of Otulu, one Mr. Okpala-Ozumba, allegedly murdered by a security aide of the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku His Royal Majesty HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, over 5, 000 Otulu indigenes comprising women, men, girls and boys, have Invade government House gate, demanding justice for their slain brother.
