BY DAPO AKINREFON

Woman activist and leader, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has called on Itsekiri delegates to the on-going national conference and President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene and find an end to the killings of Itsekiri, allegedly by an Ijaw group, Egbema Radical Group, in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

She appealed to the delegates to find solution to the crisis and stop same from escalating.

Mrs. Lori-Ogbebor, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, accused the  Egbema Ijaw Group of allegedly killing Itsekiri in Ajameta, Gbokoda, Tabu and Udo, in Olero creek.

She said: “Today, the President of this country is an Ijaw man. In his laudable inaugural speech at the national conference, he counseled Nigerians on how to live together in peace and unity and how to eschew violence. The question we must now ask is whether these lectures are just mouthed sentiments or whether they reflect the true disposition of Nigeria and the Ijaw number one citizen few days after the blast by the Egbema Radical Group. To whom do we report the lawlessness of the Ijaw, since President Jonathan and his Ijaw kinsmen think differently?

“As you go into the conference, we want you to know what is happening to the Itsekiri right now in their homeland. On Wednesday, March 17, an Ijaw group known as Egbema Radical Group, attacked and blew up the pipeline in Idibi community, Robin Creek and threatened more attacks on Itsekiri in another 24 hours.

“The action they said was to warn the Delta State Government, incidentally governed by an Itsekiri man, that the governor should forget his ambition to become a senator, which they are dedicated to scuttle to address the neglect and marginalisation of Egbema Ijaw, who share Warri North council with the Itsekiri in the state.”
She expressed worry over the state of “menace, threats and violence which the Itsekiri go through every day. One hears and condemns Boko Haram every day, but what we have in Itsekiri- land is nothing short of Boko Haram insurgency. This is how bad it is.”

Urging delegates to deliberate on the issue, she said: “This is how the Warri crisis started and that is why I am appealing that the attacks must be nipped in the bud.

“It is against this background that I urge the delegates to the national conference, which is a conglomerate of eminent persons from their various communities, the National Assembly, the Police and President Jonathan, to urgently intervene and find an end to the wanton killings in Itsekiriland.”