The Commissioner for Social welfare and Rehabilitation Hon. Joe Poroma has condemned the invasion and destruction of houses and properties of Kporghor community in Tai Local Government Area by the Wakama community of Ogu/Bolo Local Government in Rivers State.
Hon. Poroma made the condemnation recently in Borobara community where some of the displaced people of kporghor are taking refuge.
The Commissioner who sympathized with the IDPs, expressed shocked at the level of destruction describing the action as shameful, heart breaking and heartless.
“I do not see any reason that could provoke any people to render kporghor homeless and people becoming refugees in their own land”, he said.
Hon. Poroma who noted that the people needs proper rehabilitation promised to submit the report of his findings to the Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to maintain a lasting peace between the two communities.
Conducting Journalists round the community, the Chief of the community, Chief Emmanuel A. Gbarabulea thanked Hon. Poroma for his assistance and called on the State Government to come to their aid and set a clear boundary between Kporghor and Wakama communities to avoid a reoccurrence.
Chief Gbarabulea said the problem between the two communities is that of land dispute which according to him would be settled by boundary adjustment.
Mr. Bere Nkpobu who lost his house and that of his father’s during the crisis lamented that his community has suffered a great deal of hardship since December 21, 2014 when the community was destroyed and urged Government to come to their aid to settle the land dispute once and for all.
High point of the visit was the donation of bags of rice and cash to the IDPs by the Commissioner of Social Welfare to elevate their plight.
