Award-winning Nigerian music artiste, Harrison Tare Okiri also known as Harrysong has revealed how his grandmother was almost lynched during a recent clash between youths of his hometown, Ogbe-Ijoh, and those of a neighbouring community, Aladja in Delta state, and how the rampaging youths demanded money to buy ammunition from him.
He made the revelation in a statement signed by his publicist, Desmond Ike Chima, and made available to entertainment correspondents.
The Reggae Blues crooner said a serious land dispute that degenerated into a violent clash had the youths of Ogbe-ijoh and Aladja communities going into rampage, killing people and burning their houses and properties.
He said as the violence between the two neighbouring communities intensified, the rampaging hoodlums advanced towards his family house to tear it down but his aged grandmother who lives there was helped out of the area by some close family friends before the violence reached his neighbourhood.
“My community, Ogbe-Ijoh, where my grandmother resides had a serious clash with a neighbouring community called Aladja. My grandmother who means more than the whole world to me narrowly escaped being lynched by the youths of Aladja.
Harrysong also said he however lost some of his relatives to the violent clash.
“When I first heard of the clash, I feared for my aged grandmother’s life, because some who couldn’t escape before the violence worsened were burnt inside their houses.” He said.
He added that in the middle of the crisis, youths of the both community confided in him at some points and solicited funds to him to buy ammunitions, but with some wisdom he talked them out of fighting each other.
“It is no news that youths of Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja see me as their mouth piece and ambassador. In the heat of the crisis they sometimes called and asked me to provide them with funds to buy ammunitions, but with wisdom I was able to talk them out of fighting each other.” He said.
Harrysong said it was in the spirit preaching peace to several warring communities in Delta state that he has planned a peace concert on July 31, at Asaba Event Center famously known as The Dome through the help of some top government officials of Delta state.
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