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Ogoni communal war: Lawmaker, others search for peace in Rivers
By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Leaders have waded into the communal war between the Luu-Sue and Zor-Sogho in Ogoniland, Rivers State that led to the killing of five persons and the destruction of properties.
The communal battle forced residents to flee to other communities while others took refuge in surrounding bushes.
But the lawmaker representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dumnamene Dekor, led others to the feuding communities at the weekend.
The peacemakers were said to have appealed to the communities to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign in the area.
Dekor was accompanied by the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Lahteh Loolo; lawmaker representing Khana Constituency 1 in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Bariene Deeyah; his counterpart in Khana Constituency 2, Prince Ngbor and the Bori Divisional Police Officer, among others.
Dekor urged the people to embrace peace, return to their homes and allow socio-economic activities to resume in the area.
Operatives of the police and Khana security Planning Advisory Committee (KHASPAC), provided security at the communities during the visit.
Dekor regretted that many residents were turned into beggars because of the conflict, but assured that government would bring the perpetrators to book.
The lawmaker said everything was being done to find a solution to the violence adding that the local government chairman of the area had summoned a security meeting.
He assured that government would be fair and unbiased in resolving the dispute, saying that their representatives at the local, state and national assemblies would join the council’s chairman to look into the matter.
He said: “We observed that there are elements of cultism and elements of some long standing animosity which dates back to the year 2012.
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“But by the grace of God, we shall join the Council Chairman to resolve the disputes once and for all. A security meeting has been summoned to take a look at the issue.
“The chairman has also directed that both communities come with critical members of their communities who will also join us to seek a permanent solution to the crisis.
“As a federal lawmaker, I will continue to play my role of ensuring the reign of peace and tranquility in my constituency and that’s why I am here”.
Also, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Lahteh Loolo said he got the news of the attacks on Thursday and waded into the crisis by visiting the affected communities to ascertain the cause of the matter.
He said: “Having heard from the two communities, we shall return to take a decision on this. From what we heard, it had been an age-long crisis between them.
“The crisis, unfortunately, degenerated into a cult clash. But as a government, we shall do everything to nip the crisis in the bud,” he said and urged the people to remain peaceful while government comes up with a solution.
