Ijaw Chief Murdered in Daylight Ambush

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
December 19, 2003
Posted to the web December 19, 2003

By Muyiwa Odu
Lagos
BARELY two days after about five Ijaw were feared killed by armed Itsekiri
youths along Warri waterways in Delta State, a fresh attack was unleashed on
another nine Ijaw yesterday by youths suspected to be Itsekiri.
The attack occurred at a riverine section of Ogunu, Warri South Local
Government area.
Daily Champion learnt that during the attack, one Ijaw chief (names withheld),
was killed while eight others managed to escape.
Briefing newsmen yesterday in the presence of the eight escapees, chairman of
the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Samson Mamanu lamented the unending
attacks on his kinsmen by the Itsekiri.
According to him, those who escaped the attack had to jump into the creeks when
the Itsekiri youths allegedly opened fire on their boat.
Mamanu said those who dived into the creeks were rescued by the soldiers who
were nearby.
Chief Mamanu decried the incessant gun shots fired into the Ijaw enclaves in
the past few days, alleging that so many of his kinsmen had been shot by the
Itsekiri.
He blamed both the federal and Delta state governments for their inability to
find a lasting solution to the protracted ethnic crisis in Warri and environs.
"I am surprised at the lukewarm attitude of the governments to the Warri
crisis. For the past four months, the Itsekiris have been attacking the Ijaws
and nobody is doing anything about it," he said.
He warned that except there is a timely halt to the continued attack, the
situation may escalate and that would signal the end of Warri.
One of the victims of the attack who spoke to Daily Champion, Mr. Anthony
Joromi, identified himself as a senior executive officer of Warri South local
government and narrated his ordeal during the attack.
According to him, they were returning from a religious crusade when their boat
was ambushed allegedly by the Itsekiri youths.
"They opened fire on us. It was God that saved us not just by jumping into the
river alone."
"The Ijaw have been so quiet but we are surprised that government is not doing
anything about the situation. The government has not been able to do what it is
supposed to do," he emphasised.
It would be recalled that five Ijaw were feared dead on Wednesday when armed
Itsekiri youths allegedly attacked their boat along the Warri waterways.
The deceased were on their way to Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South-West
local government area of Delta State, when their speed boat was ambushed.
It was gathered that those feared dead were few kilometres to their destination
when they were flagged down at a creek in Ode-Itsekiri neighbourhood by the
militant youths who operated in five speed boats.
The youths allegedly opened fire on the occupants of the boat, a development
which led to the death of the five persons.
Commander of the security outfit, Operation Restore Hope, Brig. Gen. Elias
Zamani who confirmed the incident described it as an isolated case.
Meanwhile, the Commander yesterday led soldiers to Ogbe-Ijoh apparently to
ascertain the present situation.

   

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