Posted by By Emma Amaize, Emma Arubi & Jimitota Onoyume on
ONE person was shot dead and several others injured in a bloody clash, Wednesday night, between the two factions struggling for the traditional stool of Ozoro Kingdom in Delta State.
WARRI - ONE person was shot dead and several others injured in a bloody clash, Wednesday night, between the two factions struggling for the traditional stool of Ozoro Kingdom in Delta State.
The victim identified as Ovwigho Kakachi was shot dead at the ancestral home of the new Ovie of Ozoro, His Royal Highness, Anthony Ogbogbo, Ibuka 1, who was formally presented to the community, yesterday.
The renewed violence in the community was to forestall the presentation of Ogbogbo as the traditional ruler by the rival faction but soldiers were deployed in the community to assist the police in the maintenance of law and order.
Area Commander of the Nigeria Police in-charge of Delta South Zonal Command, Warri, Mr. Joseph Abiona, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, however, told Vanguard at Ozoro that he was only aware that there was a clash in the community and two persons were shot but said he was not in the position to confirm the death of any person.
A source said that the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. P.O. Atta, escaped death by a hair's breath, Wednesday, when he ran into a cross-fire by the rampaging youths.
The new Ovie of Ozoro arrived the Allah square in the heart of the community for the presentation ceremony and proceeded thereafter to the Eriokpe shrine for fortification. A coffin was said to have been deposited at the Allah square where the statue of the founder of the town, Opute was erected, three days ago, to scare away the Ogbogo group. He was later escorted by hundreds of villagers to the home of the Odiologbo, Adhegu Eguoroh, where his installation was ratified by the elders.
There was still tension in the community as the rival faction laid siege in some parts of the town but the soldiers almost worsened the situation by indiscriminately beating up people. One lorry driver had his head broken by the soldiers for driving through the community while the presentation was on.
The Ovie's palace was still being occupied yesterday by the Regent, Ogagaoghene Adekhegba who is contesting the Ovie stool with the new Ovie.
Part of the palace was seen riddled with bullets when Vanguard visited. But Ibuka I who is now waiting for the formal presentation of staff of office to him by the state government told newsmen that he would not take over the palace by force from Adekhegba.