The people of the Edjekota community in Ogor Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, have refuted claims by the Nigeria Police Force, Ughelli Area Command, of a communal clash between them and the people of Ewu-Urhobo community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
On Monday, April 7, 2025, several members of Edjekota community in Ogor Kingdom went to their farmlands to perform daily tasks essential for their survival, but little did they know that trouble was knocking around.
At a press conference on Sunday at the community town hall, Edjekota people claimed that the unfortunate incident of April 7, 2025, which led to the death of two indigenes from both neighbouring communities, was a land dispute between two families and a communal conflict and called on the Nigerian Police to put the record straight instead of misinforming the public.
From a press release read by the chairman of Edjekota community, Pastor Oghenemakpor Uyo, the people of the community said contrary to rumours making rounds, they are not at war with Ewu-Urhobo community.
They claimed that the sad incident of April 7 was triggered by what they termed the unlawful arrest of some indigenes of the Edjekota community on their farmlands by policemen from Ughelli Area Command, allegedly orchestrated by a family from Ewu town.
Their arrest and subsequent detention in Ughelli Area Command according to the chairman of Edjekota community, Pastor Uyo forced the youths of the community to take to the streets to peacefully protest on the streets of Edjekota which was resisted by a team of police officers and vigilantes who allegedly shot at the protested leading to the tragic loss of two lives and several others injured by gunshot wounds.
Pastor Uyo lamented that the victims, Mr. Amakashi Martins from Edjekota community and Mr. Victor Akpojarho from Ewu community, were innocent Nigerians who were neither violent nor deserving of such brutality that led to their death.
The people of Edjekota community faulted the police arrest as no invitation was extended to the affected individuals whose lands were in dispute to appear at the Ughelli Area Command to address the allegations against them before the police officers from the Command stormed their farms to arrest them.
“On that fateful day, several members of Edjekota community ventured to their farmlands to clear their farms, a task essential to our survival. Without provocation, these individuals were arrested by officers from Ughelli Area Command, acting on the instructions of a family from Ewu town.
“It is appalling to note that NO INVITATION was extended to the affected individuals to appear at the Ughelli Area Command to address the allegations against them before the police officers from the Ughelli Area Command stormed their farms to arrest them. Furthermore, these officers failed to notify the leadership of Edjekota Community of their activities. This blatant disregard for proper procedure raises serious concerns about the legitimacy and motivations behind the intervention of the police officers under the Ughelli Area Command.
“The arrested members of our community were then clandestinely and peacefully transported to the Ughelli Area Command, without the knowledge or consent of the Edjekota Community leadership. When words spread of this unlawful action, the youths of our community peacefully took to the streets of Edjekota community to protest. However, their peaceful demonstration was met with even greater injustice. A group of police officers and vigilantes led by ASP/Julius M. Robinson, a police officer attached to the Ughelli Area Command, and Mr. Henry Okoro, a vigilante hunter both are indigenes of Ewu community, stormed Edjekota community. What followed was a gross violation of our people’s rights. The MR police officers including the said ASPlus Robinson, opened fire on our PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and several others injured by gunshot wounds. The dead, Mr. Amakashi Martins from Edjekota community and Mr. Victor Akpojarho from Ewu community, were innocent Nigerians who were neither violent nor deserving of such brutality that led to their death,” Edjekota community lamented.
The people of Edjekota community, through their chairman during the press briefing, accused the officers from the Ughelli Area Command led by one Inspector Robinson of being biased.
They unequivocally rejected the actions of the Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command and the attempts to criminalize the peaceful protest by the youths against their unlawful arrest.
“Further compounding this tragedy, the police under the Ughelli Area Command have attempted to misrepresent the facts, issuing false reports that suggest a violent conflict between Edjekota and Ewu communities. This narrative is completely FALSE. There is no crisis between Edjekota and Ewu communities. What exists is a land dispute between a family in Edjekota community and a family in Ewu community, a matter currently being addressed through the appropriate legal channels at the Ughelli South Local Government Area Customary Court in Edjophe.
“The efforts of Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command to fabricate a communal conflict only serve to obscure the truth and divert attention from the real issue: the unlawful actions of police officers and vigilantes that led to the killing of members of both Edjekota and Ewu communities,” Edjekota community bemoaned the police.
They demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all Edjekota community members currently detained by the Delta State Police Command and called on the Inspector General of Police to take immediate control of the investigation of the matter.
Chairman, Edjekota Community in Ogor Kingdom, Pastor Oghenemakpor Uyo, during the press briefing on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the community townhall
Edjekota community, while demanding justice for the families affected and for the entire Edjekota and Ewu communities, also urged the Delta State Government to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the actions of the police officers and vigilantes involved in the tragedy.
