Ijaw/Itsekiri war looms as ex-warlord sends warning to Avengers

An ex-Itsekiri warlord, and member of the Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, Warri, Delta State, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi, aka ‘Gentle General,” has sounded a note of warning to the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, that the Itsekiri ethnic nationality would defend itself if the NDA does not stop the offensive bombing of oil and gas installation in Itsekiri territory.

Newuwumi, a former Commissioner for Youths in the state, and the Itsekiri equivalent of Ijaw‘s Tompolo told Niger Delta Voice: “The bombing of oil and gas facilities in Itsekiri territory is absurd; it is an act capable of provoking the Itsekiri nation and personalities like me. I am categorically saying that if they continue, they may force us, Itsekiri, to protect our territory, especially if the present administration fails in their responsibilities to protect lives and properties.

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‘‘Bombings of oil installations he said: “We will be prepared to assist the government to end the bombings of oil installations in our area just like the role of the civilian JTF in the north, which has yielded successful results. As I said before, the destruction caused us by the Ijaw, which wanted to wipe us (Itsekiri) from the earth’s surface is still there, years after the crisis ended.

“The memories are still fresh in our mind for those of us who lived to tell the sad tales of woes and wanton destruction and killings in our communities. We will not fold our hands this time to let them destroy us as they did before.

“The then federal and state governments failed to protect us from the Ijaw until we decided to take our own destiny into our hands and defend ourselves. I just hope this present government will not abandon us to our fate,” he added.

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