Efforts to resolve the conflict between Okuama and Okoloba communities by the government have suffered a setback, as the Okoloba Community, yesterday, insisted that Okuama does not have any historical connection to the land they occupy, but are settlers who were allowed to operate fishing settlements years ago.
Most of the displaced Okuama residents are currently in the government established Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Ewu, in Ughelli South Council of Delta State, as most of their houses were destroyed during the occupation of the community by soldiers, following the killing of 17 soldiers and several civilians.
Yesterday, the Chairman of Okoloba Federated Community, Clement Koki, said that the community was compelled to respond to what he described as “orchestrated campaigns of calumny by some misguided persons” in connection with the Okoloba/Okuama crisis.
In a statement, titled, ‘Okuma: The Okoloba Story,’ Koki condemned the killing of the 17 officers and soldiers in the most gruesome manner.
He equally empathised with those within the Okuama axis for the temporary inconveniences occasioned by the security measures put in place to forestall a spiral effect of the crisis and also to de-escalate the tension.
Koki said that the Okoloba people are peace-loving, law-abiding and hospitable. He noted that their primary occupation is fishing and farming, adding that they have been co-existing with all their Ijaw brothers peacefully from time immemorial.
He, however, stressed that the Okuama people, on the other hand, are strangers from Ewu Kingdom, in Ughelli South Local Council of Delta State.
