Policemen, soldiers deployed to Abavo – VANGUARD

…I remain Abavo monarch – HRM Uche IrenumaAGBOR – ANTI-RIOT policemen and soldiers have been deployed to Abavo community, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State to maintain peace and order, following a clash between two factions over the administration of the town.
However, the Abavo monarch, HRM Uche Irenuma, told Vanguard, yesterday, that he remained the king of Abavo and was not dethroned at any time, as claimed by some persons. He explained that the minor disagreementin the town was sponsored by some persons, who failed to get contracts from an oil company, operating in the area.
Vanguard gathered that the joint security team was deployed to the community, Monday evening, to ward off further disturbances after a skirmish, June 23, which left one person injured.  Security agents were sighted at strategic locations in the town, yesterday.
It was learnt that police authorities in the state, yesterday, invited the monarch and representatives of the other faction to Asaba, over the matter. At the end of the meeting, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, advised the monarch to call a peace meeting and resolve the problem with his people.
HRM Irenuma told Vanguard after the meeting, “The issue of traditional ruler of Abavo is not in contest, what is at stake is that some people said they were  not comfortable that since Pan Ocean Oil Company came to our community, millions of naira were allegedly paid and they were not considered.”
“The person sponsoring them had asked for contracts and I am not against my people getting contracts if they are available, all I asked for is patience, we are going to discuss all the issues at a peace meeting soon.  I have not been dethroned; I left the palace this morning (yesterday morning) to Asaba for this meeting.”
He said it was not true that he hired mercenaries from outside the community to protect the palace, saying that when he observed that some people were bent on fomenting trouble, he contacted the government and Police Commissioner, who responded by drafting security agents to the community.
The opposing faction was represented at the meeting by Mr. Igbodo Iguma, Douglas Ukpe and Emmanuel Jegbefume, a member of the royal family. Iguma, who led the team, insisting that the people were not happy with the monarch because he was not carrying them along in the sharing of patronage from Pan Ocean Oil Company.