Community Denies alleged shooting, killing

By Francis Sadhere

Vice Chairman of Ugborodo Community Trust, Mr. Isaac Botosan, has denied reports in a national daily about shooting and killing of three persons in Ugborodo community, saying that those allegations were baseless as there was no fighting between any group in the community.

Speaking to journalists in Warri, the Vice Chairman of the community said that the report was being peddled by perceived enemies of Ugborodo community who he said were out to discredit the effort of the government and trying to thwart the proposed take-off of the multi-billion Dollar Escravos Processing Zone, EPZ, and project.

He said the presence of security men in Ugborodo community was as a result of decisions reached at the end of the last security meeting held in Warri on the 30^th of December 2013, adding that the security men were expected to ensure peace and security following the lingering Ugborodo Community Trust leadership tussle between the Chief Thomas Ereyitomi-led Executives and the David Tonwe group.

“The state government held a security meeting in Warri on the 30^th of December 2013 where both parties led by chief Thomoas Eritome and Mr. David Tonwe were invited. Chief Thomas Eritomi’s group turned up at the security meeting while the David Tonwe group did not.  At the end of the security meeting, the state government resolved that they were going to set up a joint task force, comprising the Army, Police, Air Force, SSS and Navy, to go to Ugborodo to maintain peace,” he said.

On the alleged killings of three Ilaje indigenes by security men, Mr. Botosan stated that the security task force was prevented entry into the community by some Ugborodo youths loyal to the Spiritual Head of Ugborodo, High priest Benson Dube Omadeli, now in the Federal Prison, Okere for alleged criminal acts.

He said; “The security agents arrived Ugborodo yesterday (Saturday), but as I am talking to you, they have not been allowed to come down from their boats. They are still flowing in the river. These groups have been able to achieve this through one of the illegal bunkers, Ofenene who is the Chairman of the illegal bunkerers. They were able to stop the security men from coming into the community by mobilizing the old women and men in the community. They used them as human shield to prevent the security men from doing their jobs.”

Botosan also disclosed that the people who prevented the security task force made-up of  Soldiers ,Navy, SSS and policemen had during the course of the internal problem driven the leadership and Executives of the Thomas group, some elders and even the youth leadership from the community, noting that they are well armed, “otherwise they could not have mustered the courage to bar the task force from entry.”

He therefore appealed to the Federal and State Government to take decisive action and bring these criminals to justice, assuring that they are willing to continue to fight illegal bunkering in Ugborodo.

While reiterated that their commitment to the stoppage of illegal bunkering activities as ordered by the Federal Government was the reason why the community was on fire by these miscreants, Botosan added the Chairman of the Illegal bunkering association, Mr. Ofe Nene and one Ogbe with their hired thugs are the ones preventing the security task from disembarking.

Also speaking on the alleged killing of Ilaje people, Ilaje Leader and Chairman of Egbe-Okota fishing port, Ugborodo, Mr. Akin Ojoma and Omoba Senator Oyedakin of Agogboro also in Escravos told newsmen that no Ilaje persons were involved in any crisis, just as non of them was reported dead as at today (Sunday) morning.

They said those making such allegation are only trying to drag the Ilajes and Itsekiri of Ugborodo into conflict that they would never allow to happen. They said they have been in Escravos for over a hundred years and doing their fishing peacefully and wish to continue harmoniously.

According to Mr. Omoba Senator Oyedakin; “Our community is the third community close to Ugborodo. Our main occupation in that area is fishing. This morning, it was very disheartening to hear that three Ilaje people were shot dead. I wonder why people are carrying information that is not true. The Ilajes and the Itsekiris have a symbiotic relationship. We have been living cordially in that region. Fishing has been our main occupation in that area. We cannot at this point begin to carry false information. As far as I am concerned, the Itsekiris and the Ilajes are living happily together in the sea side region. Up till yesterday there was no gun shot fired in the region and we are refuting that story.