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The Iyatsere of Warri, Chief Johnson Atseleghe, has sued for peace between the warring Bini and Itsekiri youths of Ologbo community in Ikpoba Okha Local Council of Edo State.
The combatants had been engaged in a fierce battle over a foundation-laying levy known as ‘Emolu’ in Bini parlance for weeks, leading to the death of four persons and wanton destruction of property in the oil-rich settlement.
Atseleghe, who doubles as leader of the Itsekiri ethnic group in the community, claimed that the crisis was triggered by members of the outlawed Community Development Association (CDA).
Absolving his people of any complicity in the incident, the Iyatsere of Warri pledged his allegiance to the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, for his fatherly role to the people of Ologbo.
Atseleghe, who commended Godwin Godwin Obaseki and security agents in the state for their timely intervention, implored the residents to be peaceful, law-abiding and shun further violence.
He pledged his readiness to continually work with the Enogie of Ologbo for the rapid socio-economic development of the area, lamenting that commercial activities had been paralysed owing to the impasse.
The community leader insisted that the imbroglio was borne out of greed of the youths involved in land matters, who allegedly went to collect development money from a developer, but were resisted.
“It was one Osazuwa that went to collect development money. He went to where they were building a house and demanded for money. That was how the fight started,” he alleged.
