Group cautions those fueling crisis between Ijaw, Urhobo in Warri

By Emma Amaize

THE Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, yesterday, warned those stoking crisis between Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups in Warri, Delta State, to desist from the act, saying that well-meaning people from both tribes would not condone another Warri crisis.

National president of the group, Austin Ozobo, in a statement, said: “It is very pathetic that Agbasa and Ijaw on Market Road, Warri and Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh are fighting. We condemn shooting between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh that took place on June 2 where lots of persons were injured in Ogbe-Ijoh community.”

“We also fault attack between Agbasa youths and Ijaw  residents of Ogbe-Ijoh market. We cannot afford to have another Warri crisis. I want every fighting group to sheathe its sword. Let us learn to address our differences without resorting to war and killing one another.

“It is our warning that those fanning the embers of disunity among Uhrobo and Ijaw in Warri should desist. As a people it is equally wrong for us to claim what is not yours. Those Agbassa youths claiming Ogbe-Ijoh market should desist for the interest of peace,” IPDI said.

It added: “There is no record showing that OgbeIjoh market belongs to Agbasa people. Let us learn to be lawful. I want such persons laying claim to Ogbe-Ijoh market to ask their parents to find out the real history of Ogbe Ijoh market.

Let us not fight over nothing. We are adults; we should not allow our emotions and certain sentiments to overwhelm the collective interest of Ijaw and Uhrobo.”

“It is the duty of Ijaw and Urhobo elders to tell our youths the true stories of our existence. Some of the contorted stories we tell our youths are the reasons of the continued unrest among us. If we must live in peace, we must learn to tell our youths the basic truth about our existence.

“We urge political leaders of Uhrobo and Ijaw nations to come out of their cocoon and find lasting solution to attacks and counter attacks in Warri,” the group asserted.

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