• Chief Gbenekama appeals to Buhari and Governor Okowa to do the needful
OPOROZA—There have been reported case of tension and panic as the Nigerian Army deploys warship to the water front of Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State to allegedly combat militants.
A source in Gbaramatu Kingdom that would not want his name to be mentioned in print disclosed to Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper that the Nigerian Army have yesterday at 5:45pm positioned and tied its warship on the waterfront of Oporoza Community, the headquarters of the Kingdom, stressing that residents hardly sleep with their eyes closed.
According to him, ” We are indeed at a cross road, I don’t seems to understand what the Nigerian Government sees in Gbaramatu Kingdom that they always send the military to intimidate us, we are at war with no one, why the war ship or are we now a conquered Kingdom? This is truly getting out of hand, even war zones are not receiving such treatment, we are indeed living in panic ” The source wonders
It would be recalled that before the movement of Army War ship to Oporoza waterfront, the military had earlier last week ransacked Okpele-ama/Tebujor community in Gbaramatu Kingdom which was said to have led to the arrest of two persons while others scamper for safety.
However, it was gathered that the arrested persons have reportedly regained freedom after hours of being in the military custody.
Reacting to the worrisome development, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the Ibe-Benemowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom have condemned the raid, stating that “We can not at this time when we are looking for solutions to the problems of the Niger Delta be shopping for crisis”.
Speaking on behalf of the Gbaramatu traditional Council of Chiefs, Chief Godspower however, have appealed to the people of Niger Delta, particularly in Gbaramatu Kingdom to maintain peace despite the military raid.
“I am using this medium to plead with the Gbaramatu people, Ijaws,and all Niger Deltans to keep the peace in the face of this provocation.”
The Ibe-Benemowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Gbenekama have in the statement also appealed to the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to wade into what he described as the “ceaseless militarization of the Kingdom”
“We are also using this medium to tell our President to call the military to order and our state Governor to wade into this terrible and terrifying situation the people of Gbaramatu finds themselves.
“We are indeed taken aback by the renewed military invasion, coupled with the fact that stakeholders from the Niger Delta region and the Federal Government are working on how to find lasting solution to the impasse in the region through peaceful avenues.” Chief GG stated.
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