18 Dead As Fresh Hostilities Erupt in Ogoniland

This Day

28 December 2010

18 Dead As Fresh Hostilities Erupt in Ogoniland

Port Harcourt — Youths from K-Dere and B-Dere communities that clashed twice a few days before Christmas leading to the death of 18 people yesterday engaged each other again, River State police command has confirmed.

In a swift reaction the Rivers State government has called on the warring factions in the B-Dere and K-Dere communal crises to cease all further hostilities as it has inaugurated a judicial commission of Inquiry into the matter.

The state government said it has received with sadness news of continued violence and wanton destruction of lives and property in the affected communities, despite an earlier call on them to desist from further hostilities.

"Government wishes to state that a judicial commission of inquiry has been constituted and inaugurated to look into the immediate and remote causes of the violent conflict and proffer lasting solution", the statement read in part, emphasizing that any one or group of persons or community that flouts this directive will be held responsible in accordance with the law.

The state government has therefore called on the people of both communities to give peace a chance as the commission has been given sweeping powers to deal with the situation.