Ijaw indigenes flee Urhobo land as tension rises

Hundreds of Ijaw natives from Delta, Edo, Ondo and Bayelsa states residing at Aladja and other Urhobo communities in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, have started relocating from the localities, as anxiety shoots up over the 14-day quit ultimatum slammed on them by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Youth Wing, Udu chapter, over alleged kidnap of Urhobo people.

Vanguard learned that despite the peace efforts by the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, UPU, youth wing, and other groups, Ijaw residents in Udu communities feel unsafe since November 17 when the ultimatum was issued and started packing bag and baggage in the last two days to avoid possible hostile response.
Though the president of Federated Youth of Isaba kingdom, Ogugu Moses, denied that his people were the aggressors, he said in a statement: “On the 11th of November 2016, we the people of Isaba Kingdom released one female and six males of Aladja indigenes alive to Nigeria Navy, Army and Chairman, Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee, Chief Boro Opudu.”

He claimed that Aladja people attacked and burnt Ayama and Pamie, two Isaba communities on 10th, 11th and 12th of November and the seven persons released by Isaba people to government security agencies were strangers found in their territory during the offensive.

Vanguard, November 23

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