Chief Jude Ogbeche Ngaji on Wednesday appealed for calm to put an end to the communal clash between the people of Oba and Itega Okpame communities in Okpoma of Yala Local Government area where several persons have been allegedly killed, others injured and properties destroyed.
Jude who strongly condemned the perennial communal war urged the security operatives to immediately intervene to put a halt to the crisis.
He said that Oba and Itega Okpame are two ancestral brothers who inter marry, do businesses together, have same culture and heritage, and shouldn’t be seen in such a rivalry leading to the conflict which has led to a break down of law and order.
He added that the peace and unity of the two communities were sacrosanct and should not be compromised.
“The communal crisis between both communities is affecting the socio-economic fortunes and mutual coexistence of the communities. Leaders at all levels need to wade in by talking to the people of the affected communities particularly the youths for peace to be restored in the areas.”
“I believe that if all of us stand our ground and tell the youths to stop the fight, the youths will listen and stop the crisis. However, I want to commend the State governor, His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade and Yala Chairman for the steps taken so far to arrest the situation”.
“Some of us are seriously concerned because the people from the two communities have been living together as ancestral brothers and sisters. We are worried with the renewed escalation of hostilities. I am suing for peace and normalcy. We have no reason to fight ourselves because fight does not bring development. It is my appeal that the two warring communities should lay down the arms for peace to reign because if there is no peace, there can never be progress.”
“I want to appeal to the youths to respect the elders in the communities by obeying them and to stop the fight because where there are elders there should be peace. They should not eat their tomorrow today by killing themselves because war and destruction do not bring development to anybody. They should eschew bitterness.’
“I want to beg the elders of the communities to equally intervene in the matter because it is an aberration for the elders to be alive and seeing the youths killing themselves. The elders should be able to say no to mayhem and destruction of property and lives. When people are thinking of going to space, we are fighting over mundane things; fighting over land.”
“Yala people are people with large hearts who believe in the development of their land and the State in general. They don’t believe in reprisal attacks no matter the level of provocation.”
