…May Raid Militia Youths’ Stronghold
…Community Plans Protest Against Move
BEVERLY HILLS, August 11, (THEWILL) –Â There is palpable tension and fear in Ugborodo, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state over a surveillance exercise allegedly conducted by a detachment of troops in the troubled community on Sunday.
This is coming few days after THEWILL reported that the military Task Force constituted to ensure that peace returns to the community had handed down a week ultimatum to defiant youths groups in the community to honour the Federal Government brokered peace plan or be ready to face the full wrath of the law through the deployment of troops to crush any opposition.
With the development, indications have emerged that the military is set to invade the community following the resistance of some ‘recalcitrant youths’ in the area to have some persons displaced in the area resettled in their ancestral home in accordance with the peace agreement .
THEWILL learnt on Sunday that a high-power military delegation conducted a surveillance of Ugborodo in preparation for the operation which is expected to take place during the week.
The development, sources said, have instilled fear and panic in Ugborodo as residents prepare to stage a mass protest on Monday to draw the attention of international community to their plight.
“We are calling on Nigerian government and international community to come to our aid because some people want to use the military to dislodge our people. We are going to resist the move by protesting on Monday against their action.
“On Sunday, they sent heavily armed troops of soldiers to take surveillance of the communities and our people are already panicking over that. The area is charged now because something bad is about happening, one of the residents who craved anonymity told THEWILL.
Last week, the Commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Delta), Navy Captain Musa Gemu, had read the riot act to leaders, elders and youths of Ugborodo, saying the military wouldn’t no longer tolerate the unrest in the area or resistance by a quarters of the community to absorb people who were allegedly ‘chased out’ of the community following the protracted crisis in the area.
At a meeting last week, which was boycotted by Tonwe but attended by other community stakeholders, including the Olaja-Orori (Spiritual Head) and Chief Ayiri Emami of the Thomas Ereyitomi led faction, youths from Aruton, Madangho, Ogidigben and Ajudaibo as well as Austin Oborogbeyi, Chairman EPZ Interface Committee and representatives from the Police, Army and the Air Force Command in Warri, the Navy boss had said that after one week, the Task Force might use its military might to enforce the terms of agreement which was reached by both sides at the naval headquarters in Abuja in May.
One of the articles in the agreement is the unconditional resettlement of those who fled the communities during the crisis.
It could be recalled that Ugborodo has been embroiled in in protracted crisis following the long-drawn rivalry between Hon David Tonwe and Chief Thomas Ereyitome over who controls the $16billion Export Processing Zone project proposed for Ogidigben, an enclave of Ugborodo community.
