Ibrede crisis: over 50 houses, properties worth 700 million naira razed By Simeon Okworide

THE Ibrede community, an Isoko town in Ndokwa east local government area of Delta State witnessed a serious setback on the 30^th April 2014, as the crisis rocking the community detoriated in a renewed hostilities over a land dispute between the Uruebo’s family and lbrede community when over 50 houses and properties worth over 700 million naira were allegedly set ablazed by lbrede youths leading to the displacement of scores of persons in the area.

It was gathered that in December 2013, some building were allegedly destroyed and some members of the Uruebo’s family left with varying degrees of machete injuries when the land matter came up for discussion. The Odabo land as it is called is said to be over 228, 000 hectres and comprising over 100 fish ponds, 20 lakes, several brooks and Agip pipeline running through.

Speaking with Isoko Mirror, the embattled President-General, Mr. Shadrack Chukwuma Obaduemu narrated that after December/January incidents, the community led by Mr. Enifoke Onomewerike who allegedly claimed to be the new president-general ostracized the Uruebo’s family from all activities in lbrede community and the matter was taken to court in February 2014, for proper adjudication and the crisis had lingered on since then, until recently when the community refused some members of the Uruebo’s family from participating in the burial ceremony of Mrs. lnioma Awhreighe who is their daughter, which led to a serious francas and a dozen of Uruebo’s family members were injured and this infuriated one Mr. lsreal Awhreighe who invited the police to make arrest of those who inflicted injuries on members of the deceased family and in the process the Odio-Ologbo was also allegedly invited for questioning and later released. Mr. Shadrack explained that, this action did not go down well with the powers that be and the youths were mobolised to burn all houses and properties owned by Uruebo’s family members.

The embattled President-General said, the land in question is owned by the co-founder of the lbrede community known as Chief Ugbo, the ancestor of the Uruebo’s family otherwise known as Ugbo’s family.

Chief Joseph Arueighe also corroborated the statement of Mr. Shadrack Obaduemu, but, shed more light on the lingering land issue, stressing that the dispute started since 1941 when they were dragging the land in question with a neighbouring community and the lbrede community did not stand with the family, instead, the community testify against the Ugbo’s family and eventually the case was won by the Ugbo’s family in 1945. Chief Joseph concluded by saying that all documents relating to the true ownership of the disputed land are with the family.

Isoko Mirror also confirmed that as at the time of filing this report 12 persons have been arrested by the police in connection with the burning of the houses in lbrede and they have also made confessional statements to the police.