By EMMA AMAIZE, Abavo
NO fewer than 20 villagers were arrested by the police, yesterday, at Abavo in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State following a clash between warring factions in the troubled community over the installation of a new king by a splinter group.
A number of villagers were reportedly injured, but the details could not be confirmed, last night.
However, Delta state police spokesperson, Mr. Charles Muka, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, confirmed that over 20 persons were arrested for carrying out violent acts.
Troubled started, last month, when one of the groups, claiming that the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Uche Irenuma, was not the rightful monarch, announced the enthronement of a new king, but Irenuma in an interview with Saturday Vanguard insisted, "I am the monarch of Abavo, nobody has deposed me".
Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, held a peace meeting between the warring groups, last week, and urged aggrieved parties to go to court for determination of the kingship, which appears to be the bone of contention.
However, the opposing faction crowned a new king, His Royal Majesty, Obi Chukwuka Sunday Jegbefume III, July 9, and pasted his posters all over the town.
The other group removed the posters on Thursday night and by Friday morning, tempers flared up between both groups, leading to intimidation and attacks on some leaders for their different positions they took on the matter.
Both sides accused each other of drawing the first blood. A leader of one of the group accused the police of taking sides on the matter. His words, "We received a report this morning about the police harassing innocent and defenseless Abavo citizens who were lawfully gathered at the Central Junction with posters of their new Obi".
Vanguard Nigeria