Fresh tension has broken out between the people of Okrika and Eleme local government areas in Rivers State, with heavy gunshots reported along the troubled axis on Thursday night.
The latest crisis is believed to be connected to a lingering land dispute between the two communities. As of the time of filing this report, the police had yet to confirm whether there were casualties from the violence.
Amid the renewed hostilities, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Obarilomate Ollor, has issued an executive order suspending all real estate activities within the council area with immediate effect.
The chairman said the decision followed the alleged influx of land grabbers targeting properties along the Woji-Aleto-Alesa link road and the Agbonchia-Akpajo axis of the Port Harcourt Ring Road.
Ollor warned that legal action would be taken against any property developer or individual who fails to comply with the directive.
He further stated that the disputed areas were duly gazetted following a landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered in 1957, insisting that the Eleme local government had never allocated the affected parcels of land to any private individual, group or company.
According to him, the council has also petitioned relevant authorities through the member representing Eleme Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Aforji Igwe, to ensure a proper investigation into the matter.
