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Tag: Ijaw community

  • Tension as army takes over Ijaw community

    RESIDENTSof Gelegele Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo, have decried the presence of soldiers from the 19 Battalion,  Koko and 4 Brigade, Benin in their community. Spokesman of the community, Chief Macaulay Ayiwei, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, said the soldiers were strategically positioned around the Ijaw community.

    He noted that the high presence of the military may not be unconnected with the land  dispute between Benin community of Ughoton and Gelegele. Ayiwei said: “Yes, the court is billed to sit on this matter on Monday and Tuesday, but what are they (army) doing here,  taking over the whole community? “If there is no sinister motive about this, why will a whole detachment of military from Delta and Edo states, armed with gunboats, take over a whole community as early as 6am on Fri day. “While we have them around the community, about five truck load of them are stationed at Ekenwan Barracks as we speak.

    “The whole of Gelegele Community are in utter confusion as to what is happening. We are also not unaware that their presence has something to do with the dispute between the Ijaw community and the Benin. “While we appeal to our people to remain calm, we are also calling on the President to call the army, especially the 4 Brigade Commandant, who is a Benin man to order and not to plunge the state into crisis. The army has however urged the people to go about their normal business Spokesman of the 4 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Captain Mohammed Maidawa, described the presence of the army as a normal routine exercise.

  • Crisis rocks Ijaw Youths Council in Bayelsa

    Crisis has hit the Central Zone of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) following moves by some stakeholders to replace the incumbent Chairman, Mr. Tare Porri.

    It was gathered that the plot to replace Porri thickened after he was elected as a lawmaker for Ekeremor Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in the last general elections.

    The Vice-Chairman of the council, Amiebi Turner, was said to be nursing the ambition and scheming to take over from Porri, who had insisted that he was not under any constitutional obligation to resign his appointment.

    It was learnt that the Chairman of the Elders’ Advisory Council, Mike Wenibowei, was working with Turner to undermine the interest of Porri.

    But Porri on Tuesday announced the dissolution of the advisory council and removed Wenibowei from his position saying the elder stepped beyond his bounds.

    Porri said the position of central zone chairmanship of IYC was zoned to the western part of the state adding that if he decided to resign voluntarily someone from the west would take over from him and complete his tenure.

    Read Also: Bayelsa mourns as literary icon, Okara, dies at 97

    He insisted that Turner, who hails from Ogbia, the eastern part of the state, was not qualified to replace him in the spirits of the zoning arrangement.

    He expressed disappointment at Wenibowei for trying to sow a seed of discord in the council saying that his tenure would elapse in 2020

    He said: “For the first time in Ijaw Nation, a serving high ranking officer is now a member-elect in the legislative arm. The least I expected was a congratulatory message from my people, most especially my executives, stakeholders and elders, because this is not just a victory for me, but a victory for Ijaw Nation.

    “I am rather shocked that while l am still alive, yet to be inaugurated and barely few weeks after my emergence, those who had proclaimed so much love for the struggle have turned themselves overnight into a tool of disintegration.

    “They are trying to create problems where there are none, calling for my resignation even when no law or conventional practice says so, this is truly undeserving considering how far we have come”.

    Porri called for unity in the council and said the leadership resolved to dissolve the Wenibowei-led advisory council, on the grounds of insubordination and disrespect for constituted authority.

    Citing some precedents, he said: “Those clamouring to be acting chairman should wait for the turn of their senatorial district. I contested as chairman with people from my district, there can’t be acting chairman while l am still chairman.

    “In the immediate past leadership, Bobo was Chairman of central zone at the same time Chairman Bayelsa Physical and Development Planning Committee, a government parastatal. He manned the two offices and performed his best

    “In Mike Wenibowei tenure, after the untimely demise of his deputy, the leaders from that zone sat down amongst themselves and nominated Ablacky, who became the deputy and started acting from that time

    “In the time of Elder Jon Jon, his replacement came from his zone and no other place after due consultation. Even if there is a vacancy, the acting chairman would come from my Senatorial district.”

  • Ijaw community seeks completion of skills centre

    Residents of Burutu community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to prevail on the state’s Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to devote some funds to the completion of the skills acquisition centre in the town.

    In a statement by President of the Burutu Community Youth Forum (BCYF), Comrade Binebai Yerin Princewill, the community hailed the governor for his administration’s development strides across the state.

    But they noted that the completion of the project would be beneficial, not only residents of the community but also all parts of the state.

    Princewill said the project would boost the government’s skills acquisition programme and remove the burden of inadequate infrastructure currently borne by students and officials of the Delta State School of Marine Technology at Burutu as well as serve as a centre for training of council workers.

    He said: “Considering the importance of the Skill Acquisition Centre project awarded to Evasteve Nigeria Limited by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), I am compelled to come out from my abode of silence to appeal to Your Excellency (governor) to spread your tentacles of development further to Burutu by financing to completion this very project.

    “Sir, it would be recalled that the Delta State School of Marine Technology at Burutu is yet to move to its permanent site owing to its zero level of infrastructural development. As a result, the institution still manages with the students on the temporary site provided by the community, which is becoming increasingly inadequate.

    “The Skill Acquisition Centre project is so important because, on completion, it will serve the community and other places as well as the institution because there are a lot of spacious rooms that can be used as classrooms, offices and workshops…”

  • Villagers flee as Soldiers invade Ijaw community

    Villagers flee as Soldiers invade Ijaw community

    We only cleared militants’ camps

     

    Residents in Akakurama community in Ovia South West local government area have fled their houses following invasion of the community by troops serving in Operation Crocodile Smile 11.

    The soldiers were said to have stormed the community in nine gunboats and several speed boats in search of suspected kidnappers and criminals.

    Some of the fleeing villagers said more than 15 houses allegedly belonging to militants were razed in the community by the

    A source said the soldiers were called into Ajakurama community on Monday at about 8:00am by an ex-militant identified as Ejuene Peres to settle old scores against those perceived to be his arch enemies.

    The source claimed that trouble started when a community leader in the community was killed and his body found in the river after a few days.

    It was learnt that family members of the slain community leader took his corpse to the residential family building of Mr. Peres and allowed the corpse stayed there for some days.

    A truce called by elders and residents of the community made the family to bury the corpse even when the case was still pending at the office of the AIG Zone 5 in Benin.

    The source who pleaded anonymity said Peres used the military invasion to settle old scores he had with some persons in the community who fingered his family over the death of the community leader.

    “He (Peres) brought in military men to invade the community of some selected persons. They came in 9 gunboats and several speed boats. People started running helter skater for their lives. He was with the soldiers pointing at houses while the soldiers set houses ablaze”

    “He listed among other victims whose houses were affected as Chief Godwin Namu, Baba Agbuke, aka Zion and all Ex-militant leaders.”

    But Peres in his reaction denied inviting soldiers to the community and that he only petitioned some persons in the community before the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who referred the matter to the AIG Zone 5, Benin for proper investigation over alleged destruction of his house.

    Read: Soldiers threaten to beat up VIO boss

     He said, “I did not invite any soldiers, I didn’t not make any arrangement with any soldier to enter into Ajakurama. Ajakurama is a community on its own. It is a Nigerian community. Soldiers can go to Ajakurama for any of their investigation.

    “If soldiers went to Ajakurama community they should not call me. I did not invite soldiers to Ajakurama. People who offended me and I wrote a petition to the IGP and the IGP recommended the petition to the AIG. The AIG invited them, so they should go and answer the AIG who is still waiting for them.

    “If anything happens to them, I don’t know where they have put their hands, I have no hands in Ajakurama matter. They should ask the federal government how soldiers came to Ajakurama. They should ask Abuja, they should ask Zone 5. They should ask Operation Crocdile in Warri why they are in Ajakurama.”

    Army Public Relations Officer for 4 Brigade Command, Captain Muhammed Maidawa confirmed that soldiers carried out an operation in the area following credible information.

    Captain Maidawa said the operation was to clear militant camps in the community.

    He said he was not aware whether any Peres invited soldiers to the community to settle scores.

  • Court’s inability to get translator stalls planned arraignment of kidnappers

    Court’s inability to get translator stalls planned arraignment of kidnappers

    The inability of the Federal High Court in Abuja to get a translator stalled the scheduled arraignment of some men alleged to be involved in the recent abduction of some pupils in schools in Lagos and Ogun states.

    The five men were accused of kidnapping some pupils and staff of Nigeria/Tulip International College in Isheri, Ogun State on January 13, 2017, and another six victims along the Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos, on December 16, 2016.

    They are Bekewei Agbojule (aka Asari), Egbasimokumo Ayeomi (aka Effiong), Godspower Olopele, Toki Okuba and Super Allen Baye (aka Yanga).

    Agbojule, Ayeomi and Baye  are said to be from the Ijaw community of Arogbo town in the riverine area of Ondo State, while the other two – Olopele and Okuba – are said to be residents of Ikorodu in Lagos and Isheri in Ogun State.

    The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), on June 1, 2017 filed a five-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/85/2017 against the five alleged abductors after taking over the case from the police.

    The charge was signed on behalf of the AGF by an Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Aminu Alilu.

    When defendants  were brought to court yesterday by the police, Alilu (who is leading the prosecution team) and lawyers to the defence were in court.

    Proceedings were however stall shortly after the defendants were called into the dock and some of them said they do not understand English well, but pidgin English.

    After some minutes of trying to get a translator, without success, Justice John Tsoho elected to adjourn proceedings to today (Wednesday) to allow for the production of a translator.

    In the charge, the office of the AGF described the acts of hostage taking and receiving of ransoms, which the defendants were accused of, as acts of terrorism punishable by life imprisonment under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

    The defendants are, in the first three counts of the charge, are accused of conspiring among themselves and with others at large  and demanded for N800m ransom after they “seized” and “detained” the pupils and staff members of Nigeria/Tulip International College, Isheri, Ogun State.

    They were said to have demanded N800m as ransom, but  later reduced it to N50m which they allegedly received before releasing the victims.

    The seven pupils and staff members of Nigeria/Tulip International College, Isheri, Ogun State, allegedly abducted by the defendants were Stephanie Nwosu, Zainab Olatubosun, Rebecca Agodi, Radiyan Aminu, Rashidat Ibrahim, Hanat Aderinto and Deriyo Yaziel.

    In counts four and five, the defendants, along with others (now at large) are said to have, on December 16, 2016, at Asolo Bridge, Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos, seized at gun point one Joshua Olayinka, Rita Morah, Kendra Abiose and four others.

    The defendants were said to have after seizing the six victims in Ikorodu, gone ahead to detain them at Ibafo Creek, Ogun State.

    They allegedly demanded a N2m ransom from the family members of the victims and received the money before releasing their victims

    The office of the AGF alleged that the offence of conspiracy to commit hostage taking was an act of terrorism contrary to section 17 of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    The office said the offences of seizing, hostage taking and demanding ransome were also acts of terrorism said to be contrary to 15 (1) of Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, and punishable under the same section of the Act.

     

  • Ijaw community gives Chevron 14 days to begin clean-up

    Okoyitoru community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State has given oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), a 14-day ultimatum to begin the piling and sand-filling of its eroded landscape or face legal action.

    In a letter to Chevron’s Managing Director, the community, through its lawyer, Omes Ogedegbe, said: “The landmass of Okoyitoru is currently washing away, and if same is left unattended, the community might go into extinction. So, the only remedy is an urgent piling and sand-filling to be carried out for our clients and same must be commenced within 14 days, from the date of your receipt of this letter. Otherwise, we shall be left with no other choice than to advise our clients on all legal remedies available to them.

    “Our instruction, upon the mandate from our clients, as eminently presented by Timi Oluba, the Chairman of Okoyitoru Development Council (ODC) and other executives of our clients, is that our client is an oil producing community within the ‘Makaraba Field’ in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, where your company has continually carried out oil exploration activities since 1973.

    “Our client’s daily production ratio is placed at 29,000 barrels per day with a shortfall of only 11 barrels production of your 40,000 barrels per day, the actual capacity production. Despite the above daily production, our client’s land has remained neglected with the people marginalised. This can best be described as a place where indeed the people sit on water without water to drink.

    “If same is allowed to continue, it will surely create an unpleasant situation for everyone in the area. Our clients are no longer afraid but angry that haven written several letters to press home their demand, in line with modern civilisation, none of these has been given a favourable response.

    “Our clients are further angered by the fact their indigenes were excluded from the EGTL award of contracts by your company for inexplicable reasons; neither are they considered for minor contracts but made to feast from the crumbs of a council as a privilege.”

  • FG not after Ijaw people, says Presidency

    FG not after Ijaw people, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Friday denied the claims that the Federal Government is harrassing and persecuting the Ijaw people.

    An elder statesman from the region, Edwin Clark in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari had accused the Federal Government of harassing the Ijaw people, citing the case of Government Tompolo.

    An Ijaw Youth organization has also made similar claims.

    Recent happenings in the region have also led to some Niger Delta militants taking up arms and bombing oil pipelines in the region.

    Reacting to the claims on telephone with our correspondent on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said that the claims were false.

    According to him, no group in the country is being targeted for harassment or persecution.

    He said: “I’m yet to read that letter but I will just say it is Edwin Clark’s personal opinion. Anybody who is a follower of events in the country knows that this administration persecutes nobody.

    “The administration is just asking all Nigerians to do the right thing and anybody that goes contrary to the law will answer irrespective of where that person comes from.

    “So if anybody says a particular group is being targeted for attack or assault or persecution, right thinking Nigerians know that that is not true,” he stated.

  • Compensation: Ijaw community gives three-day ultimatum to govt

    Compensation: Ijaw community gives three-day ultimatum to govt

    The Ijaw of Lotiebiri in Warri South Local Government of Delta State have threatened to attack their Itsekiri neighbours in Ugbori community should the government fail to compensate them over the December 2012 invasion of their community.

    In a statement by its leader, Chief Ebi Ikoro, the Ijaw community gave the government a 72-hour ultimatum to do justice to its people.

    The statement said the Ijaw lost property worth millions of naira in the invasion of its territory by some people suspected to be Itsekiri and led by a man simply identified as Jeffrey.

    The community warned that its members, on the expiration of the ultimatum, would go after the Itsekiri plying the deep Warri waters, especially the Escravos River.

    The two communities of Lotiebiri and Ugbori resumed hostilities over the alleged invasion earlier this year.

    The Ijaw demanded N500 million compensation but the Itsekiri said the demand was unjustifiable.

    The Ijaw had said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, at a security meeting on the resurgence of the Lotiebiri/Ugbori disagreement last February, told the participants that his administration had paid the compensation for the invasion.

    The statement said: “Have you seen a situation where a community was forcefully invaded, houses and property demolished, then after 27 months of long suffering of the displaced people, when the petition was read, then Governor Uduaghan admitted that he had settled those people long ago, without consulting the heads and affected persons in the community?

    “Let this serve as the warning to all Itsekiri plying the Warri-Escravos River to desist from it, pending when our money will be paid.”