6 months pregnant woman killed during land dispute

Five persons have been declared missing after Enwhe and Igbide communities of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state clashed over a disputed plot of land.

A woman with six and half month-old pregnancy was shot dead during the clash.

It was gathered that the five missing persons comprising three women and two men had not been seen by their relatives since last Monday clash.

The victims were from Enwhe community, one of the communities claiming ownership of the disputed land which could be dated back to 1967.

But Igbide community on other hand also claimed that one Prince Palmer Obukeni and a woman with six and a half month old pregnancy were also shot dead during the clash.

A source in the community in a statement said that trouble started when some women from Enwhe who had gone to harvest cassava on Monday morning were alleged attacked by suspected gunmen from Igbide at the site of the disputed land.

The Enwhe community women who escaped the ambush alerted their kinsmen who also mobilised to confront suspected warriors from Igbide community. The clash led to serious injuries.

The source said the five persons have been missing since the incident took place, noting that the push carts meant to carry the harvested cassava home were found abandoned without trace of their owners.

The President General of Enwhe community, Mr Sunday Egboye, when contacted said that the matter has been reported with the police in the area.

Ogboye alleged that the suspected attackers from Igbide community were behind the missing farmers.

He disclosed that a truce committee site up by the Isoko Development Union and headed by Mr Vincent Omurie was working towards an amicable settlement of the land dispute.

He added that he want a lasting peace brokered between the two communities stressing that his people have nothing to gain in a crisis reddened situation.

The President General of Igbide community, Mr Alex Edegware, denied the allegation that the Igbide people were responsible for the violent attack.

He said, “That is not true. They (Enwhe people) attacked our people and nobody is missing there. Enwhe people are the aggressors, they kidnapped and killed our son, Prince Palmer Obukeni and also shot dead a woman with six and a half month old pregnancy. Nobody is missing.”

But when contacted, Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, SP Celestina Kalu said she was not aware of the incident, promising to investigate and get back to our correspondent.