The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged its relevant committees to investigate the alleged communal clashes between residents of Iguelgba, Oben, Ikobi, and Obazogbe N’ugu of Edo State and the people of Mosogar in Delta State.

Since 1991, when the boundaries between Edo State and Delta State were created and explicitly defined, the indigenes of both communities and states along the border have been living in peace until recently.

The recent clash is allegedly caused by the people of Mosogar, who, according to Osawaru, “Led unjustified incursion and attack by thugs and hoodlums to the Edo communities.”

Briefing members in a motion of urgent public importance during the plenary session, the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwude Federal Constituency, Edo State, Billy Osawaru, noted that the people of Iguelgba, Oben, Ikobi, and Obazogbe-N’ugu Communities of Orhionmwon Local Government Area have “lived in peace within the oil exploration area of Orhionmwon LGA without fear, harassment and crisis of any kind and have shared common boundaries with Delta State, particularly at the Mosogar axis of the state.”

The Edo lawmaker warned that if the “Unwarranted and unprovoked incursion by people of Mosogar and Delta State in general on the lands and communities of Iguelgba, Oben, Ikobi, and Obazogbe-N’ugu in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State, the situation can lead to a full-blown interstate crisis, thereby threatening the peace and stability of the nation.

He further added that “If serious action is not taken to stop this incursion and attack coming from the Mosogar people, it may snowball into a full-scale interstate crisis, which will in turn threaten the peace and stability of the nation in general.

When the motion was put to a voice vote, members present at plenary voted overwhelmingly in support, and the House mandated its Committees on Special Duties and National Security and Intelligence to investigate the incident and report back within four weeks.

It also urged the relevant security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the National Intelligence Agency, to take immediate action to restore peace and protect the lives and properties of the affected communities.

The House further urged the Governments of Edo and Delta States to expedite action in resolving the dispute through dialogue and mutual understanding without further delay.