As the crisis between the ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups in Delta State worsens, three indigenes of Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, were reportedly kidnapped over the weekend.
According to media reports, Gbolei Andrew, Ebiarede Ponmo and Izonfa Abun, were kidnapped at different locations yesterday. Andrew was taken at Ovwian Expressway Junction at 5p.m, while the other two were fishing along the Warri River, close to Aladja community when they were seized around 4.am.
Earlier, the youth wing of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) had given a seven-day ultimatum to Ijaws in the area to leave. The announcement was made by one of their leaders, Sunday Sibi and accusing fingers are now being pointed at the Urhobo in the kidnapping the three ijaws.
Tension had mounted at Ogbe-Ijoh following an unconfirmed report that armed men have been recruited to kidnap and assassinate some prominent leaders of the community.
Chairman of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Governing Council, Alex Akemotubo (Esq.), in a statement, said:
“The attention of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Governing Council has been drawn to publications, both in the print and the social media, alleging that some Urhobo indigenes were killed and others still missing in the wake of renewed communal crisis between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja on one hand, and Isaba and Aladja on the other hand.”
“These allegations by the youth wing of Urhobo Progress Union, Udu chapter, by one Sunday Subi, is too weighty to be ignored, hence this clarification. “We, therefore, appeal to the leadership of Urhobo Progress Union to call its youth wing in Udu to order and urge security agencies in the state to investigate this allegation by inviting Sunday Subi as Ogbe-Ijoh people know nothing about dead or missing Urhobo indigenes in the wake of renewed hostilities between Isaba and Aladja communities.”
“We view this claim as cheap blackmail and attempt to introduce ethnic colouration to get sympathy from the larger Urhobo ethnic nationality.”