Following the killing of nine Oleh youths in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, the elites of Isoko Kingdom have urged the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to intervene in the crisis to avert reprisals and to fish out the killers.
The nine youths were allegedly murdered in cold blood on Friday over a boundary dispute between Oleh and Ozoro communities.
In a statement by the Chairman of the Isoko Kingdom Elite Forum, Dr Ogaga Ifowodo, the group called on the federal and state governments to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the crisis.
Ifowodo said, “The dastardly act might not be unconnected to a disputed land with a neighbouring town that shares borders with Oleh.
“The drums of war between the two main towns of Oleh and Ozoro are beating; we are calling on Buhari and Okowa to prevent needless bloodletting. A delay can cause reprisals and can lead to the destruction of lives and property as well as social unrest.
“For some years now, there has been a dispute over the ownership of land between the two neighbouring communities.
“The Delta State Government is very much aware of the dispute and has set up a conflict resolution committee.
“If nothing is done to assuage the wounded feeling and calm down inflamed passion, there can be reprisals by the aggrieved party.”
The group called on Buhari and Okowa to take immediate steps to prevent a crisis between the two communities by arresting and prosecuting the killers and their sponsors.
The parcel of land in dispute is believed to be rich in oil deposits.