The crises between the communities of Ekporo in Eleme Local Government Area(Ogoni) and Ogu in Ogo-Bolo Local Government Area both in Rivers State has taken a new turn with escalated violence leading to the murder of the councilor representing Ekporo community at the Eleme Legislative Assembly, Hon Nelson OgbuJi.
Ogoninews learnt the councilor was killed on Wednesday October 2 by attackers from Ogu community.
The Rivers State police command confirmed the incident saying the councilor was killed by an irate mob who strangled him to death while he was on his way to Ekporo, his native community.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmed Muhammad, who confirmed the story to journalist in Port Harcourt said the Councilor, Nelson Ogbuji, representing ward 4 in Eleme Local Government area was strangled to death by mob on his way to Ekporo, his native home.
The Council Chairman of Eleme Local Council, Hon. Orji Ngofa, reacting to the incident linked the death of the Councilor to a prolong land dispute between Ekporo and their neighbors, the Ogu Community.
He said the councilor was killed by an irate mob believed to have come from Ogu. He said the thugs on sighting the Councilor and were convinced that the deceased was from Ekporo swooped on him and strangled him to death.
Hon Ogofa said before the death of the councilor, the Community had on several occasions informed both the Police and the State Security Services about the built up of anger between the two communities over a prolong land dispute and pointed out that the law enforcement agents did nothing to avert the situation.
The Coordinator of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Bartholomew Oluji who also condemned the incident blamed the security agencies for the incident. He said they security agencies are very knowledgeable about the history of ethnic and community conflicts in the area and should do more to protect innocent people from harassment and death. He also said if the security agencies had stepped in promptly, this crises would have been nipped in the bud.
We will bring you updates on this story.
