A community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Igbide has exonerated itself from the notion in the public that they’re trouble makers.
This is in view of the series of issues Igbide has been having with neighboring communities such as Emede and Enhwe.
While it was reported that issues with Emede have been resolved, there is a lingering crisis between Igbide and Enhwe which has claimed scores of lives received.
In the letter, dated 7th January, 2022, Igbide detailed the series of attacks that have resulted in the death of many.
Below is the letter:
January 7, 2022
Igbide Union, Igbide
c/o Unity Hall, Atawa Igbide
Isoko South LGA, Delta State
OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY DR IFEANYI OKOWA, GOVERNMENT HOUSE ASABA
Your Excellency,
OKPOLO-ENWHE / IGBIDE CRISIS: INCONTROVERTIBLE
FACTS OF THE MATTER AND A CALL FOR YOUR URGENT
INTERVENTION AND RESOLUTION
HIGHLIGHTS
Contrary to the profiling of Igbide as warmonger, we have decided to tell our story to enable discerning and fair-minded publics know who is the aggressor and warmonger. These facts are verifiable from the Police, DSS, Hon. Chairman of Isoko South Local Government, Isoko Development Union and the Traditional Rulers of Isoko nation
- Okpolo-Enhwe was the plaintiff in the land court case. Igbide won at the High Court. Okpolo-Enhwe appealed the judgment. Again, at the Appeal Court, Igbide won. Okpolo-Enhwe appealed the judgment. After 40 years, the Supreme Court returned a de novo verdict.
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All this while, Okpolo-Enwhe people were farming up to the known boundary with Igbide, but in 2015 they started crossing the boundary into Igbide farms and communities, e.g. Owodokpokpo-Igbide where they repeatedly seized their farming implements or cause bodily injuries to them. A pregnant woman (Blessing Igbodo) was dealt a severe machete cut in her buttocks. These cases were reported at the police station at Oleh.
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May 6, 2016 – First invasion. Two young men – Okorofa Otolor and Oghenekaro Okovove Otolor – were captured alive and decapitated. Their heads were served to their deity.
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May 7, 2016 – Second invasion.
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Isoko South LGA in conjunction with Isoko Development Union set up a Peace Committee. Some members of the Peace Committee were the IDU President, Bishop of Oleh Diocese and very senior lawyers.
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Okpolo-Enhwe flatly rejected the unbiased recommendations of the Peace Committee. In their letter of rejection of the recommendations that would have ushered in peace, they singled out the highly respected Bishop of Oleh Diocese and thoroughly insulted him.
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After rejecting the Isoko Ad hoc Peace Committee, they killed a pregnant woman (Mrs. Afor Sammy) and an elderly man, Pa Edigbe in their farms on different dates.
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Isoko Traditional Rulers in conjunction with IDU administered an oath of non-aggression on September 04, 2018. On the same date of the oath administration, an Igbide man’s (Mr. Borngreat Ikemba Onaemor) Toyota Corolla Car was burnt at Enhwe. He used the car to convey security operatives from Oleh to Igbide to Enhwe.
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IDU and Isoko Traditional Rulers ordered Enhwe to replace the car within two weeks. Until date, this order has not been complied with.
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After the May 22, 2020, the LGA Chairman called a meeting of the parties in which the DSS and Police were present, Okpolo-Enhwe representatives told them that all security should stay away and allow them and Igbide to fight for 8 days. Thereafter, they stormed out of the meeting.
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Peace was gradually returning and inter-community marriages were being conducted. For example, in November, the family of the immediate past Ovie of Igbide gave their daughter to an Okpolo-Enhwe man in an elaborate ceremony in which they lavishly entertained their Okpolo-Enhwe in-laws at Igbide. And as recent as December 11, 2021, Mr. Samuel Ajogomu gave out his daughter in marriage to an Okpolo-Enhwe man.
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Then on December 23, 2021, Okpolo-Enhwe attacked a couple in their farm behind Owodokpokpo Grammar School. While her husband, an Emede man resident in Igbide escaped by the whiskers, his wife, Mrs. Oghale Napoleon, was shot and decapitated.
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The following day 24 December, 2021, Okpolo-Enhwe was shooting sporadically towards Igbide. The LGA Chairman was promptly called by the leadership of Igbide. Pronto, he mobilized both troops and police to Igbide to forestall an invasion.
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On January 4, 2022, intelligence reports received by Igbide indicated that Okpolo-Enhwe has hired a horde of mercenaries from far and near for an onslaught on Igbide. The DPO and LGA Chairman were duly informed. Then in the early hours of January 6, 2022, Igbide came under attack. Igbide leadership quickly called in the army, who responded with immediate alacrity but after two of our young men – Gabriel Orogun and Isaiah – have been felled with scores injured.
WE challenge Okpolo-Enhwe to:
a. Deny that they didn’t reject IDU/LGA Peace Committee Report
b. Deny that they didn’t ask the LGA and Security authorities to allow the communities 8 days to fight without intervention.
- Finally, let discerning Isoko people and the general public ask Okpolo-Enhwe what they really want. They were the plaintiffs in the land case. If they are not satisfied with the recommendations of Isoko South LG and IDU Peace Committee, they should go back to court and stop the unnecessary blood-letting.
Signed
Igbide Media Committee
DETAILS
HIS EXCELLENCY
DR. IFEANYI OKOWA GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE ASABA
Your Excellency,
OKPOLO-ENHWE / IGBIDE CRISIS: INCONTROVERTIBLE FACTS OF THE MATTER AND A CALL FOR YOUR URGENT INTERVENTION AND RESOLUTION
We are constrained to use this medium to bring to your attention, the incontrovertible facts of the matter between our community, Igbide and Okpolo-Enwhe, and to humbly request your intervention and resolution of the crisis. Your Excellency, we crave your indulgence to carefully read through, to enable you know and understand the undercurrents. This will enable the resolution of the crisis.
BACKGROUND
Igbide and Okpolo-Enwhe have cohabited in their respective locations for centuries. They have intermarried for generations. Almost every family in Igbide has blood or marital relationship with Okpolo-Enwhe and vice versa. The land dispute would not have lingered given the relationship of both communities and their proximity to each other. Something must be the matter for the resurgence.
Your Excellency, we itemize, vide infra, verifiable details of the matter between the two communities.
- Igbide people are traditionally fishermen and farmers. On the other hand, Okpolo-Enwhe people are fishermen, farmers and palm nut collectors. Igbide used to lease the palm trees in the disputed land to Okpolo-Enhwe people. The receipts of payments to Igbide are still available. Since the early 1900s, there has been pockets of disputes over ponds and some sections of the land. Igbide won all Court cases that resulted therefrom.
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The major land case between the communities started in the late 1960s. Okpolo-Enhwe was the plaintiff. The case was won by Igbide at the High Court and Appeal Court. Okpolo-Enhwe appealed to the Supreme Court. But after 40 years, the Supreme Court returned a de novo verdict. Okpolo- Enwhe, the plaintiff, being weary and also knowing the projected outcome since Igbide had won earlier in both the High Court and Appeal Court, desisted from pursuing the matter further.
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All this while, Okpolo-Enwhe people were farming up to the known boundary with Igbide, but in 2015 they started crossing the boundary into Igbide farms and communities, e.g. Owodokpokpo-Igbide where they repeatedly seized their farming implements or cause bodily injuries to them. These cases were reported to the police at Oleh and LGA Chairman. Nothing was done to stem them and Igbide didn’t retaliate. Once some young persons from Igbide went beyond the boundary to fish, Igbide fined them and gave the money to Okpolo-Enhwe, all in the interest of peace. Not long after this, Okpolo- Enwhe people inflicted a severe cut on the buttocks of a pregnant Igbide woman (Blessing Igbodo) who was in her farm. This matter was reported to both the police at Oleh and the LG Chairman.
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Matters came to a head when on Friday May 6, 2016 Okpolo-Enhwe, unprovoked, invaded Igbide and captured two young men – Okorofa Otolor and Oghenekaro Okovove – and brutally murdered them. Igbide people didn’t respond. They looked up to the authorities to enforce law and order and defend them. While waiting, some misguided Isoko people mocked Igbide on Facebook by saying the score is 2-0. Buoyed by the success of their invasion, they repeated the attack next day.
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Following the events of May 6 and 7, 2016, Isoko South LGA Chairman, in conjunction with IDU set up Ad hoc Peace Committee made up of prominent Isoko persons including IDU President, Bishop of Oleh Diocese and experienced lawyers. Over several weeks, they carefully listened to both sides who made their presentations and submitted documentary evidence. The Committee also painstakingly visited the disputed land. At the end, they wrote a comprehensive report and made recommendations including fixing a boundary between both communities.
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Igbide unconditionally accepted the report, in the interest of peace. But Okpolo-Enwhe roundly rejected the report and abused the members of the committee, particularly the highly respected Bishop Aruakpor, the Anglican Bishop of Oleh Diocese.
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It is interesting to note that while Igbide told the Peace Committee that the boundary between both communities is in the bush between the communities, Okpolo-Enwhe at first said they have boundaries between them and Olomoro, Emede, Uzere and Umeh. Later, they adjusted their position that their boundary is in the middle of Igbide town. That they own Ekpo Community in Igbide all the way to Owodokpokpo.
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While Igbide presented copious historical and certified true copies of judgments on the land to prove ownership including receipts of their leasing palm trees in the land from Igbide, Okpolo-Enwhe didn’t submit any verifiable historical document or certified judgments to prove ownership.
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All historical documents including intelligence reports by District Officers in the precolonial and colonial periods, (Rev. Hubbard, James Welch, etc), indicate that Igbide was founded before Okpolo- Enhwe arrived from the same route.
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After rejecting the Isoko Ad hoc Peace Committee Report, Okpolo-Enwhe repeatedly attacked Igbide. Thereafter, they resorted to killing a defenseless pregnant woman (Mrs. Afor Sammy) and an elderly man (Pa Edigbe) in their farms, in different places and time. These killings were well publicized.
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They also killed an Okada rider (Mr. Emamode Okoro) of mixed Ibrede and Igbide descent on Olomoro soil. He was brutally hacked to death. And to test the waters again, they tried to kill another Igbide Okada rider on the 18th of August 2017 at Olomoro. The vigilance of Olomoro people saved the man, but after he was dealt a severe cut in his hand that he used to shield his head. Igbide reported both matters to the police and LGA authorities.
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Now emboldened by these heinous acts, they invaded Igbide again on Sunday, August 20, 2018.
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After this event, The Chairman of Isoko South Local Government, Isoko Development Union and Council of Isoko Traditional Rulers intervened severally, culminating in the administration of an oath on September 04, 2018 that forbids acts of aggression, until a boundary is established between the two communities.
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It is most unfortunate that in spite of the truce and painstaking peace efforts of the Isoko South Local Government Chairman, Isoko Development Union and Isoko Traditional Rulers, Okpolo-Enwhe was brazenly defiant and continued on their belligerency and warmongering. Indeed, on the day of the oath taking, a Toyota Corolla car of Borngreat Sonnel Onaemor, an Igbide man that he used to convey some security operatives to Okpolo-Enwhe was burnt in front of the Ovie’s Palace at Enwhe.
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After the incidence was reported to them, the President General of IDU and Isoko Traditional Rulers reconvened same day, first at Igbide, then at Okpolo-Enhwe and directed that the car must be replaced within two weeks. Until date, that order hasn’t been complied with.
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Against the traditional oath of truce and non- aggression administered by Isoko Traditional Rulers, our kindred were shot at two different times and locations by Okpolo-Enhwe people.
(i). First, on October 06, 2018, our four fishermen were shot at Owodokpokpo-Igbide bush. One was critically injured. This incidence was reported at Oleh Police Station.
(ii). Again, on October 13, 2018, our indigenes who went to check on their traps for bush meat, were shot at Owodokpokpo-Igbide bush. One was critically wounded. This was also reported at Oleh Police Station.
- For over one hour on Monday, October 22nd, 2018, Okpolo-Enhwe people were shooting incessantly in the bush, towards Igbide. These were acts of aggression to draw Igbide into another round of conflict.
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Before these incidents, during the political consultations for the primary elections, a political team of Hon. Michael Diden (Ejele) a Senatorial Aspirant, that went to Okpolo-Enhwe and on its way to Igbide to consult with political leaders, was
waylaid by Okpolo-Enhwe people in the mistaken belief that Igbide people were in the team. Chief Frank Ozue, an SSA to the Governor who is from Iyede in Isoko North Local Government Area, was mistaken for an Igbide man, and was severely brutalized. He was lucky to survive but he spent upwards of a week in the hospital. Chief Frank Ozue reported this matter to the Police at Oleh.
- When the shooting incidents that are detailed in No. 16 above occurred, Igbide community brought the matter before the Isoko South Local Government Chairman and President General of IDU, who promptly called a security meeting on the 8th of October 2018, with the Police, DSS and army in attendance.
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The then President General of Okpolo-Enhwe, Deacon Sunday Egboye, told the meeting that he confirmed the shooting incident and was told those involved, in the presence of Odio-Ologbo and Otota of Okpolo-Enhwe, Chief Ben Igwe. Therefore, the meeting mandated the leadership of Okpolo-Enhwe to produce the culprits on Thursday, October 11, 2018 to which the meeting was adjourned.
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When the meeting held on the said date, all present
– the then President General of IDU, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, then Chairman Isoko South Local Government representative (Dennis Obrogo), Sir Hon. Mathias Eto (member of the Security Committee), DPO Oleh, DSS and the Army – were shellshocked when Okpolo-Enhwe leadership ate their words and told the house that they do not know those involved. All those present at the meeting needed no scryer to conclude that the Okpolo-Enhwe leadership was behind the culprits and shielded them. The meeting directed the Police to take necessary action. -
Permit us to use this medium to mention that after the truce on September 04, 2018, Igbide offered eight (8) Okpolo-Enhwe people safe passage home (via the Police at Oleh), when, at different times they strayed into Igbide bush. The DPO at Oleh can attest to this. This is a loud testament of Igbide’s peaceful disposition and wants an end to the crisis. Additionally, Okpolo-Enhwe people freely come to Igbide to attend ceremonies like burials and marriages without being molested or harmed. Indeed, we welcome them with open hands.
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When Okpolo-Enhwe couldn’t produce those that shot Igbide people as detailed above, we petitioned the Governor to hold Okpolo-Enhwe leadership responsible should there be outbreak of further hostilities.
FIRST RESURGENCE OF THE CRISIS.
- Some few weeks after the truce, Okpolo-Enhwe stepped up their saber-rattling, braggadocio and acts of aggression towards Igbide, all in a bid to provoke the resurgence of the crisis.
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Igbide Community engaged themselves in self-help effort to open up an earth road to link Owodokpokpo-Igbide to Ohoror (Uwheru) on the East-West Highway. The Delta State Ministry of Works and Direct Labor Agency sent their engineers for preliminary site visits to establish the coordinates of the abandoned road.
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During the military regime of Gen. Babangida, the Owodokpokpo to Ohoror road was marked for development by the Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI). Just about the time the DFRRI completed the clearing of the road between Igbide and Ohoro in Uwheru Clan and started sand-filling the road from Ohoror end, there was a change of regime. DFRRI became defunct and the construction of the road was abandoned. Some of the coordinate pillars established by DFRRI are still identifiable, particularly at the Ohoror end that is higher and not prone to flooding like the Igbide end of the road.
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Recognizing the enormous economic benefits of the road to the Isoko nation in particular and the State in general, Igbide has consistently included the road from Emede to Igbide to Owodokpokpo to Ohoror in all her requests to Governments and their interventionist agencies, to no avail. Since all entreaties to governments and her interventionist agencies had yielded no fruitful results until date, our community took up the gauntlet to open up the road in a bid to draw governments’ attention to this important artery that has the potential of uplifting the Isoko nation economically.
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We negotiated with and paid the Direct Labor Agency (DLA) to open up the road. We requested for soldiers from the 222 Battalion to provide security for the team and commenced the work on March 29, 2020.
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Three days after the commencement of work on the road, on April 01, 2020, to be precise, an indigene of Igbide, Mr. Sunshine Egborah, a father of 11, who went to his farm at Owodokpokpo was kidnapped by Okpolo-Enhwe people, ostensibly to stop the work. His son managed to escape. The matter was reported to the police. Having reported the matter, the Community allowed the Police to investigate the kidnap while the work continued, unperturbed. We later learned from credible sources that he was decapitated and his head served to their deity.
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On 13 April 2020, Okpolo-Enwhe delivered a petition addressed to the Ovie of Igbide stating that Igbide trespassed on their land and listed items that were damaged to include shrines, forbidden bush, ponds, etc, and requested that we stop work on the road immediately. We complied immediately and stopped the work.
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Igbide Community leadership approached the Police at Oleh to provide security to enable DLA mechanic fix the bulldozer and recover it. Before the police arrived the bulldozer had been set on fire by Okpolo-Enhwe people.
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Burning a government-owned equipment to stall opening up a road that runs through our land is a brazen effrontery taken too far. While it is an act of aggression against Igbide, it is a brazen affront to the government of Delta State.
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By this time, the intelligence reports we have gathered confirmed their preparedness to attack Igbide. We wrote to the Commanding Officer requesting deployment of troops to Igbide because of our absolute belief that the presence of troops may deter the invasion of our community and prevent needless loss of lives and property. We also petitioned the State Governor on the saber-rattling, braggadocio and acts of aggression as detailed above.
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As rightly predicted, in the early hours of May 22, 2020, Okpolo-Enhwe people laid ambush at the outskirt of Igbide and began their attack in the morning.
SECOND RESURGENCE OF THE CRISES
- Since the last invasion of Igbide on May 22, 2020, there has been a lull in the crisis. During this period, there has been rapprochement via social visits and
marriages by indigenes of both communities. Indeed, the late Ovie of Igbide’s daughter was given out in marriage to an Enhwe man in November. And as recent as December 11, 2021, Mr. Samuel Ajogomu gave out his daughter in marriage to an Okpolo-Enhwe man. -
Therefore, everyone was taken by surprise when on December 23, 2021, Okpolo-Enhwe people killed a woman, Oghale Napoleon, in her farm and had her decapitated. Her husband, an indigene of Emede who resides in Igbide, escaped by the whiskers. The matter was reported to the Police, DSS and the Local Government Chairman. After an autopsy was done by the authorities, her body was buried.
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The following day, December 24, 2021, Okpolo- Enhwe started another round of shooting by about 9.00pm. The DPO at Oleh and Local Government Chairman were promptly notified and they sent troops and police to Igbide.
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On the 4th of January 2022, we got intelligence report that Okpolo-Enhwe has hired a horde of mercenaries ready to attack Igbide any moment. The DPO and Local Government Chairman were informed of this development.
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The intelligence report proved to be true. As early as 5.00am on January 6, 2022, Okpolo-Enhwe started the invasion. We promptly informed the authorities and invited the Army. Before their arrival, two of our boys – Gabriel Victor Orogun and Isaiah – have been felled and scores injured.
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In an address by the famous J.F. Kennedy at the United Nations in September 25, 1961, he said and we quote, “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind”. Nowhere is this statement more apt than Igbide and Okpolo-Enhwe proracted and intractable crisis. There has been wanton carnage in both communities that must not be allowed to continue.
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Your Excellency, we wish to use this medium to humbly request you to save our souls. We are an endangered people. We wish to humbly appeal to you
i. Station troops permanently in Igbide
ii. Set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to
• Thoroughly investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis between the communities.
• Investigate the acts of aggression of Okpolo-Enwhe against Igbide, including the burning of Delta State Direct Labor Agency-owned bulldozer; thoroughly investigate the arson to fish out the culprits and mete severe punishment to them to serve as a deterrent, and;
• Investigate all the claims above and ascertain their veracity.
• Resolve the crisis once and for all.
42. While we are confident that you will act fast, given the fierce urgency of the situation, to save our souls and prevent further carnage, please, Your Excellency, accept the renewed assurances of our highest esteem.
Signed:
Chief Egba Ugolo
President General
Mr. Paul Tutu Erero
Secretary General
cc.
1. Commissioner of Police
2. State, Director, DSS
3. Brigade Commander, Agbarho
4. Isoko South LGA Chairman
5. PG, IDU
6. Chairman, Isoko Traditional Rulers
