By Kenneth Orusi
In what many residents describe as a long-overdue intervention, the Delta State Police Command has convened a crucial peace meeting aimed at defusing rising tensions among Okuama, Okoloba and Akugbene communities, three riverine neighbours whose relationship has been strained by years of boundary disagreements, fishing rights disputes and recurring acts of provocation along their waterways.
The meeting, held on Monday December 1, 2025 at the Area Command in Warri, comes against the backdrop of increasingly “ugly developments” in recent months.
These include reported clashes among youths, allegations of harassment on fishing routes, and renewed claims of unauthorized boundary demarcations.
Community members say the tensions have not only disrupted economic activities such as fishing, but have also deepened mistrust, threatened inter-family relations, and raised fears of a full-blown communal crisis if left unaddressed.
Against this fragile background, the police-led dialogue served as a critical platform for stakeholders to openly confront the issues driving hostility and to reaffirm a shared commitment to peace.
Presiding over the meeting, Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, warned that the Command would not condone any drift toward violence, stressing that the goal of the intervention was to prevent preventable conflict.
“We will not allow any dispute, especially those that can be resolved through dialogue, to undermine the peace of this state,” he declared, urging the communities to abandon threats, confrontations and self-help tactics.
Representatives from all three communities, including the Acting President General of Okuama, the Okoloba delegation led by Dr. David, and key leaders from Akugbene, expressed appreciation for the police intervention.
They acknowledged that unresolved boundary issues and shared waterways remain the core triggers of tension, but pledged readiness to embrace a constructive path.
Contributions from several stakeholders, among them Pastor Edewor, Youth President of Okoloba Mr. Prince, Chief Okoloko Tata, Comrade Cletus, and Aaron Young of Okuama, offered practical insights on restoring trust, ensuring transparency in communication, and stopping youth mobilisation for confrontational fishing activities.
After hours of deliberation, the meeting produced several far-reaching resolutions aimed at preventing escalation.
Among them: No community is permitted to impose boundaries on waterways, and all residents must be free to fish without fear of intimidation.
Youths are to desist from carrying arms, especially during fishing expeditions and boundary-related engagements.
Communities must avoid self-help approaches, as these remain a major spark for violence.
The earlier letter to the State Government on boundary adjustment must be actively followed up to ensure an official and lasting settlement.
Local Government Chairmen will be invited for a follow-up meeting with the Commissioner of Police to harmonize monitoring strategies along waterways, in continuation of commitments made during the 2024 Government House Annexe meeting.
Any violator of the peace agreement will be arrested and prosecuted.
A Peace Committee WhatsApp platform will be created to strengthen communication, provide early-warning signals, and prevent misinformation.
CP Abaniwonda thanked the leaders for their maturity and cooperation, reiterating that the Police Command will intensify intelligence-led surveillance and community-focused policing to keep the peace.
He urged the communities to uphold the resolutions and embrace continuous dialogue as the most reliable tool for preventing conflict.
At a time when minor disputes have the potential to spiral into major crises across the Niger Delta, Monday’s peace parley stands out as a significant step, one that residents hope will shift the tide from hostility to harmony in Okuama, Okoloba and Akugbene.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, affirmed that the Command remains committed to safeguarding all lives and properties within the state.
