News

June 21, 2009

Urhobo patriots ask FG to withdraw JTF from Gbaramatu

By Emma Arubi
WARRI—THE Urhobo Patriots have called on the Federal Government to withdraw its troops from Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Council area of DeltaState, just as they appealed to the militants, the Gbaramatu kingdom and the entire Ijaw nation to be law abiding.

In a statement issued in Warri yesterday, the non-political and socio-cultural group said “Tompolo/militants are living in camps and not in Gbaramatu kingdom even though they are natives of Gbaramatu kingdom”.

The statement signed by Mr. Austin Obahor, National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Urhobo Patriots urged the JTF and the Federal Government to “stop the continuous killing of innocent and defenceless citizens and wanton destruction of property in Gbaramatu and its neighbouring communities”.

According to the statement, “the appeal is coming on the heels of planned reinforcement of troops in Gbaramatu in alleged search of Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo”.

The statement read in part; “ We wish to make it abundantly clear that the Federal Government has no justification for the Gbaramatu genocide.

We therefore appeal to the JTF to withdraw its troops from the kingdom and we also appeal to the militants, the Gbaramatu people and the entire nation to be law abiding and embrace peace and negotiation at all times”.