Delta Crises: Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Meet, Alleges Over 21 Attacks From Aladja,  Seek Justice

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By Binebai Princewill 


The People of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom have alleged that their Aladja counterparts in Udu Kingdom, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have attacked them over 21 times since the resurgence of the crises in 2016. The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide can report.

Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom made this known to newsmen in Ogbe-Ijoh Community via a press conference organised by the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Governing Council at its Community Town Hall. 

The Press Statement had accused the Delta State Government of being responsible for the lingering crises in its failure to execute earlier decision reached by the Government and the two enstranged communities. 

The statement delivered by Hon. Denbo Denbofa on behalf of the People of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom read below:

OGBE-IJOH/ALADJA BOUNDARY DISPUTE: PRESS STATEMENT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENT

Gentlemen of the press, once again we have gathered here to update the press on the persistent and consistent attacks on Ogbe-Ijoh indigenes along the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh road by Aladja people. 

The recent victim is Pastor Sylvester Yerinbide of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ogbe-Ijoh Branch, who was tortured to death by Aladja assailants. Pastor Sylvester Yerinbide on the 29th of October 2021, left Ogbe-Ijoh at about 06:22pm to attend an all-night vigil at Aladja organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Aladja Branch and was attacked by Aladja assailants along the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh road by Aladja. 

The Aladja assailants after inflicting grievous bodily harms, used the Motorcycle (okada) he was riding to press him to the ground and was in that state till a commercial Motorcyclist saw him and took him to Government General Hospital Ogbe-Ijoh and was later referred to a private hospital in Warri where he died.

We also recall similar incidents on the 15th of October 2019 where Mr. Taylor Ogofuwa was shot dead in the process of clearing the surrounding of his house. Also on 10th of October, 2018, Mr. Wilson Oborogha was almost killed while clearing surrounding of his compound. Similarly, in November 2017, Mr. Samson Bebebo was beheaded in a fish pond while carrying out his legitimate business. 

The Government of Delta State and Security Agencies in Delta State are aware that since the return of the “conditional Peace” brokered by the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Peace Vanguard on the 10th of June 2019, there have been one form of calamity to the other against the Ogbe-Ijoh people. 

There have been persistent and consistent attacks on both human and buildings on daily basis. From records available, since June 10, 2019 to date, more than ten (10) persons have been attacked leading to grievous bodily harms – maimed, disfigured and amputated. Also within this period, a number of buildings have been either set ablaze or doors/windows and other interior fittings are destroyed within Ogbe-Ijoh by Aladja people.

We also recall the series of peace accord/agreement entered with Government and security agencies and the flagrant violations on the part of Aladja Community as well as inaction of Government and security agencies in this regard. Furthermore, we recall the numerous attacks on Ogbe-Ijoh by Aladja assailants since 24th of March, 2016 to date. At the last count, Ogbe-Ijoh has been attacked more than 21 times and all documented. 
It is rather unfortunate that the Delta State Government failed to arrest this situation making Aladja community to feel above the law. We have given the Delta State Government all the support and cooperation the Government needs to restore lasting peace to the two communities, but Government choose to play politics with the boundary dispute. 

The Government of Delta State called for an EXPANDED SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING and took a decision which is fair enough to both parties but Government failed to implement. 

The Government of Delta State is in possession of all the security reports and is better informed to take definite stand on the boundary dispute but yet Government refused to do the needful as required. 

Furthermore, the Government of Delta State cannot claimed ignorant of all the atrocities meted out to the Ogbe-Ijoh people and chose to remain silent in all of these as a Government is quite disturbing.

It is sad however to note that Government of Delta State finds it extremely difficult to demarcate the boundary of the two local Government councils, Udu and Warri South West as recognised by existing boundary laws in Nigeria and as maintained by successive Government from 1955 to date. It is indeed sad that the Delta State Government despite having all the facts of the matters with specific reference to Western Region Legal Notice No 176 of 1955, instrument establishing the boundary line of the two local Government and others. We are surprised that the Delta State Government is not doing enough to permanently resolve the boundary dispute between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja. 

In our view, the failure of Delta State Government to take definite stand on the boundary dispute and deal squarely with defaulting party is primarily responsible for the incessant attacks and killings in Ogbe-Ijoh by Aladja assailants. 

Arising from the above, the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth Council issued a 14-day ultimatum for the relevant bodies to fish out the culprits and as leaders irrevocably committed to peace, we have intervened and advised our youths to discontinue the ultimatum and continue to maintain the peace despite the unwarranted and unprovoked attacks. 

We therefore call on Government, especially the Commandant Nigeria Army Effurun Barracks who called for security meeting of parties with a view of preventing reprisal attack to do all that is needed to fish out the culprits as we will not accept any attempt to silent investigation like previous cases.

Signed: Chief Roland TakemboChairman, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Governing Council Mr. Peter LondonSecretary, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Governing CouncilComrade James EtimadimenePresident, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth Council Elder Samuel IgbomeneChairman, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Elders CouncilChief Rose Donokoromo Chairperson, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Women CouncilHon. Friday DeinghanLeader of ThoughtChief M. KemeLeader of Thought Hon. Denbo Denbofa, leader of thought. 

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