Crisis engulfed riverine communities in Delta State leaving six persons dead and many others wounded.
This came as Okoloba and Okuama communities in Bomadi and Ughelli South local government areas of the state engaged in a shootout over a land dispute on Saturday. While six people were confirmed dead, many others suffered from varying degrees of bullet wounds.
Remember that last year, the two villages engaged in a battle of words over trespass on property and a fishing lake, with one group claiming threats to assault the other and asking for the state government to step in.
However, a community source who spoke on the condition of anonymity reported that the shooting began on Saturday.
He said: “You are aware, this crisis has been brewing since last year when our community sent an open letter, calling on the state government to intervene, urging the government to call the aggressor, Okuoma community, to order.
“Yesterday, between the period of 5 pm and 6 pm, the two communities engaged in a face-to-face shootout and six persons went down on the side of Okuama, including three mercenaries from other communities. They are Urhobo and Ijaw mercenaries.
“Today, any moment from now (around 5.20 pm), any side can start the attack again”.