4 killed, Others Injured As Anambra & Kogi Indigenes Clash Over Oil

4 killed, Others Injured As Anambra & Kogi Indigenes Clash Over Oil

The boundary dispute between Anambra and Kogi state governments, on Monday, July 21, degenerated into fresh fighting, which resulted in the death of four people and several others injured.

The people of Aguleri, Anambra East local government area were taken unawares as the the people of Echeno/Odeke in Ibaji local government area of Kogi State stormed the disputed area, armed with dangerous weapons, including automatic rifles usually handled by security operatives.

The incident which occurred at about 3.00pm was said to have taken place in the presence of security operatives guarding the buffer zone created by the National Boundary Commission in the area to forestall clashes between the warring communities, Vanguard reports.

Related: 7 Feared Dead, 52 Houses Torched As Anambra, Kogi Communities Fight Over Oil Wells

Confirming the incident, the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the matter is being investigated at the highest level of security and it will be premature for him to make any statement on the clash. He also refused to disclose the casualty figures.

The two border communities of Aguleri Otu, Anambra East Local Government Area and Echeme/Odeke in Ibaji local government area of Kogi State, have been laying claims to the oil deposits found on the Omambala River basin. The clashes became worse shortly after the commissioning of Orient Petroleum Refinery located at Aguleri Otu in Anambra State by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.

Related: Anambra, Kogi Communal Crisis: Our Patience Is Running Out – Aguleri People

Following the frequent clashes in the area, the National Boundary Commission had met with the deputy governors of the two states on many occasions for the purpose of finding a lasting solution to the border problem. At the last meeting which was chaired by the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Dr. M.B. Ahmad, it was noted that the Anambra/Kogi interstate boundary was the boundary of the former Northern and Eastern regions described in the legal notice No 126 of 1954.

However, the people of Kogi were said to be insisting that despite the demarcated boundary between the old Kabba and old Onitsha provinces, the oil deposits in Omambala River belong to them.

Source: Legit.ng

Online view pixel