- One Killed, Monarch Escapes
BY INNOCENT OSAKWE
THE Land dispute in Ewulu Community in Aniocha South Local Government Area, which has lingered on for some time now took a dangerous dimension with a youth feared killed while many, including the traditional ruler of the community, Obi Godwin Onyenwouwa, fleeing.
Our correspondent, who visited the community and spoke to some indigenes, who do not want their names in the print, reported that trouble stated when youths of the community accused Obi Onyenwouwa of illegal sales of their land and not carrying them, the community along.
Although the size of land allegedly sold by the community leader could not be confirmed, rumours making the rounds said it runs into several hectares.
A local security source in Ogwashi-Uku, who confided in our correspondent that what led to the crisis was the amount said to have been released for sharing to the Ewulu youths by the Obi himself. According to unconfirmed information, some of the community youths were favoured with the sale and were flaunting their proceeds from the sale with buying of cars, while a second faction were said to have been short-changed.
“It was the request for their own share of the proceeds by the unfavoured group during the meeting at the palace that triggered the crisis that led to the shooting.
“Surprised, and from nowhere, one of the invitees had pulled out a gun he was armed with and opened fire on the protesting community people, killing one of them on the spot, while several others, including a woman allegedly sustained gunshot injuries and that made the irate youths to set the palace of the traditional ruler, Obi of Ewulu, Godwin Onyenwouwa ablaze and that he has been sacked from the community and has gone underground.
Recall that crisis had erupted some years back in Ewulu following alleged land sales by the Obi of the community. Efforts to get across to one of the palace chiefs in the community was not successful as at the time of filing this report; just as the calls put across to the Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe were not answered.
