By Emma Arubi
WARRI—Itsekiri people of Omadino have called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to caution Urhobo people of Ukpokiti, both of Warri South Local Government Area, over alleged claim to Omadino land.

According to them, it is only a quick intervention of the governor that can avert imminent violence between both communities.

The call was contained in a petition by Omadino community, signed by their counsel, Mr. Edward O. Ekpoko.
The petitioners stated that trouble started when the people of Ubenyi fishing camp, owned by Omadino, an Itsekiri community, were allegedly attacked by the people of Ukpokiti, an Urhobo community, over refusal of the former to pay rent.

The petitioners maintained that Ubenyi fishing camp had been in the possession of Omadino community from time immemorial, adding that no community had challenged its ownership until the recent emergence of Agbarha Development Committee, comprising the Agbarha-Urhobo of Warri South Local Government Area.

“Ukpokiti is one of the 7  communities that make up Agbarha Urhobo in Warri and had been adjudged customary tenants of Itsekiri people in the celebrated case of Ometa vs. Dore Numa, case No. 25 of 1926,” Omadino community said.

It noted that with the creation of Agbarha Development Committee, the status of Agbarha Urhobo vis-à-vis land ownership in Warri has not changed.

“Under the Development Administration Committee Law 2004, the Agbarha Development Committee cannot collect any fee, rate or levies in respect of any if its functions unless fixed by the governor. “Moreover, Ubenyi is not one of the areas comprising the Agbarha Development Committee as contained in the Second Schedule to the Law,” the community added.