TWO persons have been injured by a stray bullet and over six persons have been arrested by security agents drafted from the Ughelli Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force over alleged disagreement on a date to celebrate the Ovwor community deity.
The disagreement is between the Chief Priest and some elders in the community.
It was learned that combine security agents stormed the community with four Armoured Personnel Carriers and were shooting sporadically to scare residents.
It was also gathered that the community Chief Priest, Mr. Ovovwero Ogbiroro has fled the area to evade arrest as those not lucky enough were allegedly bundled into police waiting vans and taken away.
According to a community source, “The situation in town is terrible, there has been several gun shots and as that was not enough,they brought four armored tanks with army to the community.
“At the market square,there are over 10 vans of the Nigeria Police stationed there and in the process stray bullet injured one Honour, and a former councillorship aspirant, Destiny Ojo.
“Some of the persons arrested are;Obahor Aghoho, Scott Onokvwosa, Afoke, Akeh, AbakaFizani and others and the those that were injured are;Honour whose father is from Oteri-Ughelli community in Ughelli and Destiny Ojo.
“Currently the oldest woman in the community and the injured are at the general hospital receiving treatment from the tear gas released by security agents, a community source alleged.
Speaking on the incident, Mama Galilee Idodo said: “though I am a Christian but those participating in the festival fixed the date of the deity ‘Egbine’ celebration for August and it was agreed by the elders.
“The Chief Priest related the date to the elders which they agreed, while those participating in the event were practicing, same elders disagreed and countered the chief priest on the said date.
On his part, Mr. Ugbeyanrighe Ejovwokeoghene said that the Chief Priest of the community clearly told the elders that the festival should be celebrated in August and they sent people to consult and those sent for the consultation came with same message as predicted by the Chief Priest, Ovovwero Ogbiroro.
“We are calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the federal government to come and intervene in other to withdraw security agents from arresting our people.
But the traditional ruler of the community and Owhorode of Olomu, HRM Macaulay Ovwagbedia while confirming the story said the situation had already been brought under control and things were getting better.
Though the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright could not be contacted but a senior security source from the state command, who confirmed the incident said, “Those arrested have been released unconditionally.”
