Gbaramatu raises alarm over threats on Ikantu, Ijaghala (Zou-ala Uba) Communities, calls on govt, security agents to intervene

By Monday Peters, Abuja

The ancient Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State has raised alarm over perceived threats on the leadership of Ijaghala ( Zou-ala uba) and Ikantu (Kantu) Ijaw communities by suspected Itsekiri elements.

The traditional council of Gbaramatu kingdom made the assertion in a press briefing on Monday 16, in Warri , Delta State.

Speaking through the Fiyewei of the kingdom, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, emphasised that the leadership of the Gbaramatu kingdom has been inundated with calls over the threat to evacuate and kill members of Kantu and Ijaghala communities.

He stated that the traditional council was compelled to hold a press briefing to call the security agencies, federal and state governments to provide necessary security to protect the lives of Ikantu and Ijaghala Gbaramatu Ijaw communities.

According to them, the threats were coming due to the fact that the aforementioned communities had decided to reaffirm their position as Ijaw and Gbaramatu people.

The Fiyewei insisted that the law provides freedom of association, adding that Ijaghala and Ikantu people should be allowed to associate with their Ijaw progenitors.

However, the kingdom warned against any attempts to attack Ijaw Ijaghala and kantu people, adding that they will vehemently resist such threats, and will not cede any parcel of land to Itsekiris migrants.

He lamented over the suspected murder of the Gbaramatu Ijaw illustrious son in Tebijor community in the recent time, warning that such should not repeat itself again.

The Fiyewei warned that Itsekiris who are issuing threat to Ijaws should desist, and in case they are ignorant about the ownership of such lands, they should ask their fathers about their origin and their migration history, but in case their fathers had died, they should fine any means to exhumed their bodies, so they could provide a guide to modern Itsekiri youth who do not know where they came from.

He said the Kantu and Ijaghala ( Zou-ala uba) people had decided to trace their true origin, stating that they should be allowed to enjoy their freedom of life and association.

Gbenekama, maintained that lie had an expired date, noting that Itsekiris were glorifying themselves with lies, and that such lies have expired.

The Ijaw leaders insisted that Ijaghala, Kantu, Omadinor and Obodo were ancestry lands of Ijaw people, adding that the elders of the Itsekiri were conversant with these facts.

The traditional council called on the federal government to investigate the Warri traditional ruler who is accused of gun running and brought him and others to book, stating that the gun running was an attempt to attack and kill the Ijaw and Gbaramatu people of Warri federal constituency.

Meantime, the Gbaramatu leaders urged INEC to complete the delineation exercise, adding that there was outright peace in Warri and its environs, stressing that the delay in completing the Warri delineation exercise wasn’t for the interest of peace.