The boundary dispute between the Eliozu community and Rumuosunwo Community of Eneka Clan in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, which erupted over three years ago, appears to be coming to an end after several failed entreaties to restore peace in the area.
In a chat with newsmen recently at the Eliozu Community, the Palace Secretary, Comrade Clinton Adams, said they have been having a running battle at the disputed area with hoodlums, who were encouraged by their opponents until recently when they decided to invite the security agents into the matter for assistance.
According to him, “the two communities met sometime ago and raised a joint committee which included their Paramount Rulers HRH, Eze Iwuala J. Woko, for Eliozu and Eze Joel Worlu for Rumuosunwo for a peaceful delination of the boundary but the hired criminal elements who eventually camped at the swamp would not allow them entry hence the invitation of the Police”.
He said it was the effort of the Nigeria Police, Rivers State Command, through the IGP Monitoring Unit, Rivers branch, that paid off recently. According to him, “the site was raided and many of the criminals were arrested, arms and ammunition of sophisticated type recovered”.
Comrade Adams disclosed further that the kingpin of the group, one Smart Nyegorom and his lieutenants, escaped at the first attempt and were planning a reprisal attack on the community from their hideout, but for the timely intervention of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (Abuja), who eventually ambushed, dislodged and arrested them all.
He stated that in a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Zaki Ahmed, recently the two communities have agreed not only to amicably settle their differences but promised to cooperate with the Police with useful information that will assist them do their job perfectly and bring lasting peace to the area.
The CP further directed them to work with their local Divisional Police Officer to ensure total restoration of peace in the area.
The neighbouring communities also used the opportunity to express their gratitude to the Nigeria Police for their tremendous support which they noted will now help the Peace Committee complete the delination exercise without hindrance in the interest of all.
The Eliozu Palace Secretary recalled that in time past, a Director in the Ministry of Urban Planning, Rivers State, had come to their community, armed with a letter to enable them reduce the influence of flood in the community by digging a canal to channel the water but that the exercise they later found out was not in their favour.
He noted that inspite of their complaint for the stoppage of the exercise it continued unabated. The next thing they saw, Adams continued, was the presence of the hoodlums, who always scare the committee members away from the site anytime they made attempt to enter the place.
