URHOBO ULTIMATUM: URHOBO YOUTHS REJECTS CALLS FOR WAR, SAYS THEY ARE NOT AT WAR WITH IJAWS

• Vows to deal with instigators of war

  WARRI–Urhobo Youths Operating under the auspices of Udu Youth Council, UYC an umbrella body covering all youths in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have today condemned calls for war with their alleged Ijaw brothers.

The youth group however, appeals to Ijaws not to vacate their land, alleging that they have had a long standing relationship while also frowning at the spate of violence meted out on the Urhobo people of Epame and Ayama by the Ijaws of Isaba in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the leadership of the UYC Comr. Freeborn Ovwemejepha President; Comr. Tegolor Yembra  Otito, P R O ; Comr. Vincent O.Omoko, Spokesman and Comr. Malik Otete, UYC Coordinator respectively today after their meeting.

Speaking further, the UYC also called on the Delta State Government to do the needful by rebuilding the affected communities, stressing that the government and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA should provide relief materials for the displaced persons of Epame and Ayama.

The statement read “That Udu Youths (Urhobo) are not at war with their Ijaw neighbors or anybody.

“Udu youths sue for peace and call on all especially our Ijaw neighbours residing in Udu to go about their normal businesses while also calling on Government and all relevant authorities to do the needful by providing adequate security in the affected areas.

“Government should ensure that the Ayama and Epame people are relocated back to their various communities.

“Government should rebuild the communities and resettle the Ayama and Epame people as they are now Internally Displaced People (IDP).
6) We call on IYC and all Ijaws to caution Mr. Frank Omare and Boro Opudu in other not to plunge the Urhobos and Ijaws into unwanted crisis which effect would be very devastating.” It stated

Adding that “We also call on Government, NEMA and other bodies to provide relief materials for the Ayama and Epame people as Internally Displace People (IDP).

“We call on all Isaba and Ogbe-Ijoh people who have forcefully occupied Epame and Ayama communities of Udu L.G.A to immediately evacuate to enable the Epame and Ayama people to go back to their homes.

“That Udu people (Urhobo) have a long standing relationship with their Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba (Ijaw) neighbors and have been living in harmony and would continue to live peacefully. 

“We call on all Udu Youths to remain calm and peaceful.

“As for hoodlums who may take advantage of the situation in Udu to cause mayhem and criminalities, please you are WARNED to desist as UYC will make the area unsafe for you.

“We urge the drum-beaters of war because of their selfish interests to have a rethink and channel their energies to productive ideologies as crisis will not yield any positive outcome. The case of the tribal war between the Hutsy and Tutsy of Rwanda is still very fresh in our memory.” UYC said

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