By Emma Amaize & Egufe Yafugborhi

CONCERNED indigenes of Ode-Ugborodo, Itsekiri riverine community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have appealed to the executives of Ugborodo Community Management Committee, led by Austin Oboroegbeyi, to come home and stop administering the community from other lands.

Mr. Cyril Ojogor, son of the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, who spoke for worried villagers, said: “The present executives of Ugborodo Management Committee, led by Oboroegbeyi, are not on ground in the community. The people want the executives to be on ground, they should sit up and face the community where their obligation lies.

“I find it difficult to understand why a management committee approved by the Eghare-Aja and Chairman of Ugborodo Council of Elders would shy away from the people and the community where they hold power.”

Vanguard could not reach the chairman of Ugborodo Community Management Committee, Oboroegbeyi, for comment, but an executive member, Mr. Alex Eyengho, said: “That is not the issue. Those are mere distractions by the criminal elements and their sponsors. The real issue is that this community is very desirous of, first, flushing out all the criminal elements in Ode-Ugborodo (Aruton) because that is where the problem lies.”

“And we have already started doing that by arraigning some of them in court. In addition, you are aware that the Nigeria Police had declared some persons wanted, 23 are at large including Ofe Penda Nene and Benson Omadeli, the spiritual leader. The police have officially declared them wanted for murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.”