Ijaw People Not Part Of Niger Delta Avengers, Group Tells Itsekiris

Ijaw Communities of Burutu and Warri South-West of Delta States have dismissed the claims that the close relationship between the Ijaw people and the militant group,the Niger Delta Avengers is responsible for the zero cases of attacks recorded in the area,saying it is a lie and deliberate falsehood.

An Itsekiri group called Niger Delta Movement for Social Economy Inclusion( NDMSEI) had alleged that the Niger Delta Avengers attacks is being carried out by Ijaw sponsors and that all the attacks were carried out in Itsekiri territory.

But the Ijaw group known as Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group(WIPMG) yesterday in a statement issued via email and signed by the Chairman, Chief Patrick Bigha,described the allegation as false and deliberately made to malign the Ijaw people in furtherance of the Itsekiri aged long hatred against Ijaw people.

According to the WIPMG, “The Itsekiri people are deliberately inciting the federal government against the Ijaw people so that government would bomb and kill innocent Ijaw people and communities. We wish to state clearly that the Ijaw people have no business or connection with the Niger Delta Avengers. This position has consistently been stated by different Ijaw groups and personalities.”

“It is not true as claimed by the Itsekiri people that the attacks are been carried out in Itsekiri territory. The obvious truth is that the Ijaw people of Warri especially Gbaramatu, Egbema, Ogbe-Ijoh, Diebiri Clans and the Ijaws of Ogulagha in Burutu Local Government Area are the greatest victims of the Avengers attacks. Nearly all the attacks have taken place within Ijaw territories. The Itsekiri claim to territory is baseless.”

“The Itsekiri claim is an elongation of their land grabbing nature. It is shocking and shameful that the Itsekiri people even persist in their land grabbing attitude even in matters of attack on oil facilities and frivolous.”

“We call on the federal government and security agencies to completely disregard the claim by the Itsekiri people. Some Itsekiri people such as Ayiri Emami’s wish is that the Ijaw people especially those from Warri should not live. That is why Ayiri Emami want Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) dead at all cost.”

“Some Itsekiris have pathological hatred for Ijaws. Government must not allow their agencies and officers to carry out an ethnic agenda by Itsekiris against Ijaw people.The Itsekiri Monarch, Ikenwoli 1 should do well to caution his subjects as the attitude of some of his subjects is so provocative in recent time that it may lead to another Warri crisis.”

“ If he can not call such rampaging subjects to order in the public, then it will be construed to mean that he is behind them, and this will not do us good. We are aware that the Itsekiris are ready to fight the Ijaws of Warri with their statements and actions as regards the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers.”

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