Tension in Okpare Community as Soldiers Invades, disrupts End Of Year Conference

There is tension in Okpare Olomu community in Ughelli South Area Thursday as armed military personnel in vehicles allegedly barricaded the town hall thereby depriving indigenes from attending their end of year conference to discuss issues on the development of the community.

The soldiers also disperse traders who have come to trade in the popular Okpare market.

The situation, PEBNEWS learnt led to severe tension as people scampered to safety.

The Okpare community annual conference is slated for every December 26 as stipulated in their constitution but there were concerns due to lingering internal problems.

PEBNEW gathered that the soldiers stormed the community with three military pickup vans at about 7:am on Thursday.

The operatives were alleged to have immediately made their way into the community town hall in search of some community leaders including the President General of the community, Mr. Okiemute Otoka.

The soldiers’ action sparked protest from community women and youths across the various quarters in the peaceful community.
 
Contacted, President-General of Okpare-Olomu Town, Mr. Otoka confirmed the development from his hideout.

Speaking in a low voice, he said, "Every December 26 is our annual General Conference and the previous administration has been avoiding the Conference because some of the leaders are into sales of lands without approval.

"As the President General, I insisted that the Conference must hold as stated in the community constitution, but some of them are afraid that they will be exposed at the gathering and for that reason, it must not hold.

"They went ahead to invite the army who came to the community and were flogging innocent people, sometime shooting canisters to scare people from the community Town Hall.

"Currently I am looking for a way to escape the community because as I speak with you now I am hiding somewhere for the safety of my life.

"Some community elders and leaders who illegally sold community lands without approval of the annual conference were behind the invasion of the community town hall by the military." He stated.

A community leader who craved anonymity rubbished the claims of the President General. "Since emergence he has been acting very funny and wants to remove the elders and replace them.

"The elders wrote to the Local Government Council which ordered that the Conference be postponed but he wants to cause trouble, the soldiers I learnt were there to keep peace." He added.

However, as at the time of filing this report, the heavily armed soldiers were still occupying the community town hall and barricaded the premises with their vehicles.

A security personnel from the area who confirmed the incident said, "There has been issues in the community, the PG fixed the Conference for today and a letter was written to everyone from the local government council requesting for the postponement of the Conference.

The letter dated on December 24 signed by the Secretary to the Ughelli South Local Government, Olorogun John Ewenede states "In light of the current situation, we kindly request that the conference be postponed until after the festive period.

"This will enable the Council to intervene and ensure peace in the community, which is essential given the court-ordered restraint prohibiting community meetings pending court proceedings.

"We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter, and your prompt attention to this request will significantly contribute to maintaining peace and stability in Okpare Community."