THE people of Kpokpo community in Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have blamed the manner of award of the EPZ site clearing contract in Kpokpo by Chairman of Ugborodo Interface Committee, Mr. Austin Oborogbeyi as cause of the Monday night attack of Madangho.

In a statement by the Olare-Aja of Kpokpo, Pa. George Kolo Fregene, on behalf of indigenes of Kpokpo, they warned that the continuous neglect of Kpokpo by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; Federal and Delta State governments as well as the Ugborodo Interface Committee in the industrial gas city project was capable of causing ethnic crisis and stopping the realization of the Gas City Project.

They also faulted “the subsequent misconception being created that Kpokpo is part of Gbaramatu for the economic and political convenience of some Ugborodo leaders in collaboration with the some Ijaw leader.”

However, Mr. Oboroegbeyi said neither himself nor his committee awards contracts, explaining that award of contracts was done by NNPC.

Oborogbeyi said: “Kpokpo is not a community in Ugborodo, but a settlement in the Madangho community area and, therefore, part and parcel of Ugborodo community. With due respect, there is no Olare-Aja in Kpokpo as the Olare-Aja, who oversees Kpokpo on behalf of Ugborodo community is the one in Madangho.”

While accusing a former Chairman of Ugborodo Community Trust (names withheld) of ceding Kpokpo land to Gbaramatu for economic reasons, they noted that “Kpokpo is in Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State and not related to Ijaw people of Gbaramatu.”