Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has stated that the state government would rehabilitate the affected communities of the recent crisis in Warri North Local area and promised to prosecute the perpetuators of the crime.
Dr Uduaghan who said this Wednesday, July 10, 2013 during a peace and security stakeholders meeting in Warri with security commanders and leaders of ljaw and ltsekiri communities in Warri North Local Government said that a thorough assessment of the area would be carried out and relief materials sent to the victims.
He informed the gathering that the government in colloboration with Delta State Oil Producing Communities Development Commission (DESOPADEC) would help rebuild the affected communities and provide relief materials for the displaced victims.
While assuring that the people that all those arrested in connection with the mayhem would be prosecuted, he said that he acted on warning signals and quickly deployed security personnel to the communities to maintain peace, explaining that the state government was on top of the situation and that the security agencies have been strengthened to handle the situation, even as he has held series of peace meetings with leaders of the area.
“The state government wish to condemn the perpetuators of this violence and will prosecute all persons arrested in connection with the crisis. We are on top of the situation and the security agencies have been strengthened to handle the situation. Let me assured you all that the state government in colloboration with Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission [DESOPADEC] assess the effects of the crisis in the area and rehabilitate the affected communities and victims”.
Speaking further, the governor expressed gratitude to itsekiri youths for not retaliating and commended notable ljaw leaders especially Chief Edwin Clark who intervened to calm the situation and condemned the violent act.
The Chairman of the Transition Committee of Warri North Local Government Area, Mr. David Edun who briefed the gathering on the extent of the violence in the area said the attackers destroyed several itsekiri communities including Gbokoda, Obaghoro and Ebrohimi.
Also speaking the leader of the ljaw community, Chief Emmanuel Ebimami and the leaders of itsekiri community, Mr. Micheal Diden, Chief Ayiri Emami and Mr. Ezekiel Akpasibowa explained that the violence was perpetuated by criminals who wanted to steal crude oil.
According to them “This violence is caused by criminals who have the desire to break pipelines and steal crude oil, it is not an ethnic agitation. We thank the governor and security operatives for arresting the situation.”
Responding the security operatives present at the meeting appealed to the people in the local government to allow peace to reign in the interest of development in the area.
They harped that the situation was put under control as a result of the large troop of security personnel deployed to the area and appealed to the indigens to co-operate with the security agencies.
The security commanders present at the meeting include the commanding officer, Four Brigade Nigeria Army in Edo State, Brigadier- General Pat Akem, the Commanding Officer 61 Detachment, Nigeria Air-force Warri, Air-Commodore Phillip Jatau and the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba.
