…Its A Land Disputes Between Two Families Not Communities, We Have Lived Peacefully For Years
…Call On IGP To Investigate Police Killing, Brutality In Edjekota
By Staff Reporters
The people of Edjekota community in Ogor Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, have debunked the news making the round that the community is having communal clash with the people of Ewu-Urhobo community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, calling on the Nigerian Police to put the record straight instead of misinforming the public.
Speaking to Journalists during a press briefing held at the Edjekota community town hall on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Chairman of the community, Pastor Oghenemakpor Uyo, noted that contrary to the news circulating everywhere, the people of Edjekota community are not at war with Ewu-Urhobo community, but rather, two families, one from Edjekota community and the other from Ewu-Urhobo community, that had a land disputes.
Pastor Oghenmakpor however decried what he described as unlawful arrests, brutality, and senseless killing by police officers under attached to the Ughelli Area Command of the Delta State police command.
In his address, the community chairman stated that; “It is with profound sorrow and grave concern that I stand before you today to address the deeply troubling and unjust events that unfolded on April 7th, 2025.
“On this day members of the Edjekota community fell victim to unlawful arrests, brutality, and senseless killing by police officers under the Ughelli Area Command, with the active support of certain individuals from Ewu community”.
Pastor Oghenemakpor who was flanked by members of and leaders of the community said in his address that, “What should have been a day of hard work and productivity for our farmers has instead become a tragic chapter in the history of our community termed “A BLACK MONDAY”.
Narrating what transpired on Monday, April 7, 2025, the community chairman disclosed that; “On that fateful day, several members of Edjekota community ventured to their farmlands to clear their farms, a task essential to our survival. Without provocation, these individuals were arrested by officers from Ughelli Area Command, acting on the instructions of a family from Ewu town.”
According to him, there was no formal invitations from the police to those arrested or the community leadership before the arrest, revealing that the matter is already before the Customary Court at Edjophe community in Ughelli South Local Government Area and queried why there should be an arrest without prior notices or invitations.
Hear him, “It is appalling to note that NO INVITATION was extended to the affected individuals to appear at the Ughelli Area Command to address the allegations against them before the police officers from the Ughelli Area Command stormed their farms to arrest them.
“Furthermore, these officers failed to notify the leadership of Edjekota Community of their activities. This blatant disregard for proper procedure raises serious concerns about the legitimacy and motivations behind the intervention of the police officers under the Ughelli Area Command.”
The community through the chairman during the press briefing accused the officers from the Ughelli Area Command led by one Inspector Robinson of being biased. He blamed the police officers for enforcing such arrests without reaching out to the leadership of the community, adding that it was the manner at which the arrest was made that triggered the peaceful protest by the youths.
“When words spread of this unlawful action, the youths of our community peacefully took to the streets of Edjekota community to protest.”
According to Pastor Oghememakpor Uyo, it was this protest that was allegedly treated with gross injustice by the police team led by one ASP Julius Robinson and one Henry Okoro, of the Vigilantes/Hunters and alleged to be an indigene of Ewu-Urhobo community who were accused of firing live bullets that killed one of the community youths, Amakashi Martins.
They called on the Delta State Police Command to immediately release those arrested and urged the Inspector General of Police to investigate the unlawful killing and arrests by the police.
Read the full address of the chairman during the briefing;
ADDRESS BY PASTOR OGHENEMAKPOR UYO, CHAIRMAN OF EDJEKOTA – OGOR KINGDOM COMMUNITY, OGOR CLAN IN UGHELLI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE ON THE EVENTS OF MONDAY 7TH APRIL, 2025 IN EDJEKOTA-OGOR COMMUNITY
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS,
It is with profound sorrow and grave concern that I stand before you today to address the deeply troubling and unjust events that unfolded on April 7th, 2025. On this day members of the Edjekota community fell victim to unlawful arrests, brutality, and senseless killings by police officers under the Ughelli Area Command, with the active support of certain individuals from Ewu community, What should have been a day of hard work and productivity for our farmers has instead become a tragic chapter in the history of our community termed “A BLACK MONDAY”.
On that fateful day, several members of Edjekota community ventured to their farmlands to clear their farms, a task essential to our survival. Without provocation, these individuals were arrested by officers from Ughelli Area Command, acting on the instructions of a family from Ewu town. It is appalling to note that NO INVITATION was extended to the affected individuals to appear at the Ughelli Area Command to address the allegations against them before the police officers from the Ughelli Area Command stormed their farms to arrest them. Furthermore, these officers failed to notify the leadership of Edjekota Community of their activities. This blatant disregard for proper procedure raises serious concerns about the legitimacy and motivations behind the intervention of the police officers under the Ughelli Area Command.
The arrested members of our community were then clandestinely and peacefully transported to the Ughelli Area Command, without the knowledge or consent of the Edjekota Community leadership. When words spread of this unlawful action, the youths of our community peacefully took to the streets of Edjekota community to protest. However, their peaceful demonstration was met with even greater injustice. A group of police officers and vigilantes led by ASP/Julius M. Robinson, a police officer attached to the Ughelli Area Command, and Mr. Henry Okoro, a vigilante/hunter both are indigenes of Ewu community, stormed Edjekota community. What followed was a gross violation of our people’s rights. The MR police officers including the said ASPlus Robinson, opened fire on our PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and several others injured by gunshot wounds. The dead, Mr. Amakashi Martins from Edjekota community and Mr. Victor Akpojarho from Ewu community, were innocent Nigerians who were neither violent nor deserving of such brutality that led to their death.
To date, none of the police officers or vigilantes involved in these killings have been arrested or held accountable for their actions. Their involvement in these atrocities has yet to be investigated, and no one has been questioned or held responsible for the deaths. This is not merely a failure of law enforcement it is an outright violation of HUMAN RIGHTS and a direct attack on the dignity of our people.
Further compounding this tragedy, the police under the Ughelli Area Command have attempted to misrepresent the facts, issuing false reports that suggest a violent conflict between Edjekota and Ewu communities. This narrative is completely FALSE. There is no crisis between Edjekota and Ewu communities. What exists is a land dispute between a family in Edjekota community and a family in Ewu community, a matter currently being addressed through the appropriate legal channels at the Ughelli South Local Government Area Customary Court in Edjophe.
The efforts of Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command to fabricate a communal conflict only serve to obscure the truth and divert attention from the real issue: the unlawful actions of police officers and vigilantes that led to the killing of members of both Edjekota and Ewu communities.
The Edjekota community has several critical questions that demand immediate answers:
1. Who authorized the arrest of our farmers on their own farmland by officers from the Ughelli Area Command? This action contradicts clear directives from the Inspector General of Police, which explicitly prohibits police involvement in land disputes.
2. Who gave the order for ASP Robinson, other police officers and vigilantes to open fire on peaceful protesters in Edjekota, leading to the tragic loss of life and severe injuries?
3. Why are Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command spreading false information about a violent communal conflict between Edjekota and Ewu communities, when both communities have coexisted peacefully for many years?
We, the people of Edjekota community, unequivocally reject the actions of the Police Officers under the Ughelli Area Command and the attempts to criminalize our peaceful protest.
We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all Edjekota community members currently detained by the Delta State Police Command.
In light of these grave concerns, we call upon the Inspector General of Police to take immediate control of the investigation into these incidents. The actions of the Police Officers involved in the unlawful arrests and the subsequent shootings and killing demand thorough and impartial scrutiny. It is evident that the local police officers under the Ughelli Area Command have failed in their duty to uphold the law and protect the rights of our citizens. The lives lost and the injuries sustained cannot be ignored, and we call for the full accountability of those responsible.
We also urge the Delta State Government to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the actions of the police officers and vigilantes. involved in this tragedy. We demand JUSTICE for the families affected and for the entire Edjekota and Ewu communities.
Edjekota community will not rest until JUSTICE IS SERVED. Our fight is not just for the victims, but for the dignity, rights, and peace of our community. We will continue to demand justice, no matter the obstacles.
We thank you for your attention to this matter and your continued support in our pursuit of justice.
Thank you.
PST. OGHÉNEMAKPOR UYO
Chairman, Edjekota Community