05 March 2014, Warri – The Federal Government’s mediation committee, looking into the leadership conflict in Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, has directed the Nigerian Navy in the area to stem continued acts of lawlessness in the community.
At the continued meeting in Abuja, Monday, with the warring factions, Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, represented by Rear Admiral A. Oyagha, was said to have ordered the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Warri, to apply minimal force to contain the violence in the community and for law abiding residents and visitors to go about their businesses.
The CNS, who heads the government mediation committee for peaceful settlement of the crisis, reportedly took the decision when parties at the Monday meeting informed of last Friday’s attack on journalists and Ugborodo women leaders, who were on a boat to Ogidigben to pray for peace and the successful execution of the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in the community.
A source at the meeting told Vanguard yesterday, “You are aware that the lawlessness in Ugborodo has continued. Last Friday, women in the community who were on their way for prayers for God’s intervention in the crisis were attacked at Madangho along with journalists on ground to cover the event.
“It is a welcomed development that the mediation team is beginning to recognise the necessity for military intervention as some freeborns of the community are being stopped from entering their homes by violent elements using force of arms. This cannot continue.”
Meanwhile, the mediation committee has also summoned evasive Dr. Alex Ideh and David Tonwe faction to appear before it on Wednesday next week to explain the continued absence of the faction’s mediation team in the ongoing peace talks.
It was gathered that the traditional authority in the community, the Olaja-Orori and Eghare-Aja, as well as a notable figure in the camp of Dr. Ideh and David Tonwe, have also been asked to face the mediation team unfailingly on Wednesday for the resolution of the issues in the crisis.
The source said: “You will recall that the final resolution of this crisis had to be shifted by the government’s4 peace committee three times owing to the absence of the Ideh/Tonwe faction. Last Monday, they stayed away again, except Dr. Ideh, who showed up with their counsel, Femi Falana and Festus Keyamo. Not happy with the delay tactics by Ideh/Tonwe faction by the CNS, we want this crisis resolved.”
Also present at Monday’s meeting were representatives of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, the Department of State Services, DSS as well as representative of the Delta State Government.
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– Vanguard