…Assures of peace, security in riverine communities
BOMADI—The executive chairman, Bomadi local government area of Delta State, Hon. Andaye Rawlings Dagidi, has secured and released the purportedly missing indigene of Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area, who was held hostage by the people of Okoloba community.
In the early hours of Thursday, the news of the detention of an indigene of Okuama by the people of Okoloba community broke out, causing panic and speculations in the creeks of possible renewal of hostilities.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the council chairman, Chancel Bomadi Sunday, it disclosed that the honourable chairman of council would leave no stone unturned on issues of development and security of lives and property in the council area.
It stated that Hon. Dagidi swiftly swung into action on getting wind of the news of an indigene of Okuama being held hostage by neighbouring Okoloba community.
It also noted that the Dagidi-led council administration is poised to maintaining the prevailing peace, who earlier called on all security apparatuses to be on the alert to arrest the situation, as well as calling the leadership of Okoloba community not to harm the hostage.
The statement quoted the council chairman in a press briefing at the Bomadi Police Division: “This morning, while I was preparing to go to Asaba to attend an official function, I received a call from the Department of State Security, DSS and the Bomadi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, intimating me of the news of an Okuama indigene being held hostage by the people of neighbouring Okoloba community.
“When I heard that, I immediately abandoned my official assignment and called the chairman of Okoloba community not to harm the hostage, telling him that I’m coming to the community. After that, I reached out to my counterpart, the chairman of Ughelli South local government to know if he is aware of the situation, as well as telling him to come over to Bomadi for us to go to Okoloba.
“But, on arrival at Bomadi, I met the Okoloba community chairman and the hostage at the Bomadi Police Division because of my earlier reaction on phone.
“Already, every necessary arrangement has been made with the Bomadi DPO to move the hostage to the Utujeremi Police Division for his onward movement to Okuama community.
“I want to thank the proactive actions of the Bomadi Police Division and the DSS for their swift responses on issues of security in the local government area.
“I emphatically assure everybody that my administration has come to sustain the peace that Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori has zealously worked, and that there will be no more crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities”.
However, the chairman of Okoloba community, Mr Clement Koki, who narrated the incident, said: “This morning around 6 am, we saw this man at our backyard and we asked him what brought him to our community, but he could not explain himself.
“So, they apprehended him and brought him to the community. We decided that we should bring him to Bomadi and hand him over to the police”.
The hostage, who gave his name as Godwin Friday, upon questioning said that he was actually going to work but strayed beyond the boundary between the two communities.
He said: “I am an indigene of Okuama and Igbudu. This morning, I was going to do my wood work from Okuama at around 6.30 am when some boys, about four of them, accosted me and beat me.
“I was born and brought up in Warri and I don’t actually know the boundaries between Okuama and Okoloba, and the place we work is close to that area. They took me to their community and handed me over to the community chairman”.
However, the DPO, Bomadi Police Division, Adie P. Bissong, assured that he and his men would take the hostage to his counterpart in Ughelli South local government area.
