The Delta Ijaw Comrade Community, DICC, has accused the Delta State Government of enjoying bloodshed over it’s silence on the lingering crises between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities.
The group particularly tackled Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for treating an important topic such as communal crises with levity.
President of DICC, Amb Prince will Binebai, in a statement on Wednesday, has failed in his duties as the Chief Security Officer of Delta State, as the protection of lives and properties ought to be his first priority.
“March 24th 2016 the war between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh reincarnated under the watch of Okowa as Governor of the state and since that time till date it is over five (5) years.
“The Delta Ijaw Comrade Community (DICC) believes in peaceful resolution of issues as the Ijaws and Urhobos are one hence there won’t be any need to fight among ourselves for a piece of land.
“Our Governor cannot claim not to be aware of the massive killings that had happened since 2016 to 2021, a scenario that have seen the lose of lives from both communities, at each strike, Delta State is losing future leaders.
“If all Deltans are looking forward to our dear Governor for his directives, what then is the cost for the Governor to end this crisis. Setting up a boundary committee is simply not enough as we need our Governor to personally act on this matter, enough is enough for the killings.
“We are tempted to ask on what could bother the Governor of a state more than when his people are in crisis under his watch, is the fight between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja Communties bigger than our Governor to settle?.
“Despites his activities across the state, it will be a very bad legacy if our dear Governor is unable to resolve this matter before living office as Governor of the state.
“Our worry for a Governor with many applauds is that for the six (6) years of his leadership in the state as Governor from May 29th 2015 till date, he has ruled for 6 years and some months out of which over five years has been a crisis for the people of Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja.
“We make bold to state that if the crises is between his people in Delta North, he would have find a way to resolve this matter long ago and not this one that he appears to be unconcerned about the killings.
“His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State handed over a peaceful state to you and now there has been crises in this part shortly after you became the Governor of our state. Governor Okowa ought to be the best person to resolve this lingering age long communal battle because he is neither an Ijaw nor an Urhobo,” the statement added.
The Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja crises spans back to the early 1990s, with lots of lives lost in the lingering bloodbath.
Pastor Sylvester Yerinbide of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), is the latest casualty to have died from the lingering crises.
He was attacked by suspected Aladja youths while going for a night vigil in the community.
