Two killed, houses razed in fresh communal clad in delta

          Two killed, houses razed in fresh communal clash in Delta

At least two people have been killed and seven houses razed in a fresh clash between the youths of Umuezegoli community of Ebedei clan and those of Akoku clan in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

Yesterday’s clash came barely a year after indigenes of Ndokwa axis in the state engaged themselves in a bloody clash in which many lives were lost over a boundary dispute.

Although the cause of the fresh dispute could not be immediately ascertained, it was, however, learnt that a peaceful parley between the two communities dovetailed into a heated argument, leading to the crisis.

Youths of Umuezegoli allegedly invited an indigene of Akoku to their community for a discussion on Tuesday night, where matters degenerated into a brawl before the Akoku man was brutalised and killed.

The incident triggered anger among the youths of Akoku clan, who swiftly mobilised for a reprisal.

“In the twinkle of an eye, the youths had invaded Umuezegoli, but the place was deserted because the people had anticipated a reprisal and had fled the community. But early the following day, more than five houses have been set ablaze,” the source narrated. The Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Area, Mrs. Ndudi Osakuni, who lamented the saga said: “Immediately I was alerted about what happened, I visited Umuezegoli, but the place was deserted and we met only the Okpala-Uku of the clan, a man of over 100 years.”

She confirmed that more than five houses were razed by the rampaging youths and according to her, “One of the buildings that are close to the house of the Okpala-Uku was still in flames, so we struggled to put out the fire to prevent it from burning the Okpala-Uku house.”

She, however, regretted that between Wednesday and yesterday, another person was killed at Umuezegoli, increasing the death toll to two. While Osakuni said drastic action had been taken to calm the feuding parties and restore peace to the communities, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu said: “No signal about that yet.”