Uneasy calm exists among communities of Aguleri-Otu in Anambra and Echonwa/Ideke in Kogi States that are in dispute over the ownership of oil deposits and fields, whose petroleum refinery President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned two years ago at Aguleri–Otu.
Both communities are however, contesting ownership of the oil and gas deposits as well as the refinery at Aguleri Otu in Anambra state.
There is tension in the area with youths and militias at both ends arming, which observers fear could escalate into a full-scale war.
Communities on the Anambra side however, put the blame on the doorsteps of Ibaji Local Government of Kogi state, accusing it of failing to rein in its youths, who in disobedience of the pleas for calm by the two state governors of Anambra and Kogi constantly attack Anambra communities.
Some prominent Anambra people who spoke to The Guardian argue that if Kogi people feel there is oil in their section, let them look for an oil prospecting company to explore it and build a refinery.
They have however, appealed to their youths and groups not to take laws into their hands to avoid situations that could further endanger lives and property in the area.
Immediate past council Chairman of Anambra East, Comrade Chiedu Obidigwe warned that events are taking dangerous dimensions, lamenting that the situation in the area was being under reported in the media.
He suggested the traditional approach to settle the land dispute to avoid loss of lives and destruction of property. He said the crisis in the area has created environmental problems in Anambra with over 400 families displaced.
A community leader in Aguleri-Otu, who bemoaned their ordeals in the past two years since hostilities started said, “Over 250 persons have been rendered homeless and are living as refugees in neighbouring villages and death rate is over 100, with several homes destroyed. Several farmlands are abandoned, while property worth several millions of naira also lost with many houses burnt or destroyed beyond repairs allegedly in Kogi militant raids.
“The worst victims are women and children and the children are exposed to danger,” he added.
Commenting on the crises, the Commander Anambra Security Pontu Zone, Ejike Alaguwa said but for their plea and numerous interventions that the Aguleri youths should not carry out reprisal attacks on Kogi communities, the situation would have been worse. We are interested in finding amicable solution to the crisis.
“Even though our people have been sent packing and are in concentration camps against their wishes, we are praying that the calmness continues because we don’t want war. Orient Oil is for the good of our people and therefore we don’t want war.
“We call on the Federal Government to intervene in the crisis between the two communities to ensure that peace reigns in the area by creating a buffer zone.
However, there have been interventions from federal and state governments following the deployment of security patrols in the area. A visit by The Guardian to the conflict area reveals that there are joint Police, Army patrol, which has ensured relative peace in the area.
Already work at Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR) has been suspended. It would be recalled that a disastrous flood had sacked workers at Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR) last year and recurring communal clashes has also disrupted the oil flow station.
Spokesman of Anambra State Police Command, Emeka Chukwuemeka, a DSP, however said it was investigating a clash that occurred in the area on Monday, maintaining that the matter is being investigated at the highest level, while refusing to give details.
The Monday fighting came against the backdrop of series of peace meetings held to broker peace for the feuding parties and the intervention of the National Boundary Commission, which was said to have created a buffer zone to prevent further fighting.
