the Bayelsa State Government has again warned communities embroiled in land and boundary disputes to refrain from resorting to armed violence, as government would deal decisively with any community found wanting.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the warning at a meeting with leaders of Elepa and Egweama communities in Nembe and Brass local government areas respectively.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, said government would not hesitate to apprehend leaders of communities, who encourage armed conflicts with their neighbours over ownership of ancestral lands.
He called on the leaders of Elepa and Egweama communities to maintain the peace in their areas, as the ownership of the land where the Elepa Oil Fields are located is the subject of an ongoing legal suit at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Emphasizing the need to maintain the existing peace in all parts of the state, the Deputy Governor made it clear that as a responsible government, the Governor Douye Diri-led administration would not fold its arms and watch two communities go to war.
To this end, he directed the state Police Command to liaise with other security agencies to protect lives and property in the area, including the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facilities at the five Elepa oil wells.
The Deputy Governor added that government might direct the SPDC to open an escrow account into which all royalties accruing from the five oil wells will be paid, pending when the Supreme Court delivers its judgement on the land ownership dispute.
Representations were made by the Chairman, Nembe Divisional Council of Chiefs, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, CDC Chairman of Egweama, Mr. Tonye Yemoleigha, and the Paramount Ruler of Elepa Community, His Royal Highness Gelegukuma Apiri at the meeting.
