INC Iduwini clan berates SPDC for inciting crisis among Ogbotobo, Letugbene communities, harps for peace, cautions crisis merchants to retrace steps

By Sunday Onye, senior correspondent

Following a recent rift between Letugbene and Ogbotobo communities of Ekeremor LGA Bayelsa State, the chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Iduwini Clan, Double Chief Benson Dodoru has appealed for peace among the two communities as he blamed SPDC/Renaissance Africa Energy Company limited for inciting crisis among Ogbotobo and Letugbene communities.

The clan chairman further condemned the action of the youth of the Letugbene community against their Ogbotobo neighbours in the Iduwini clan, while faulting the action, he described it as archaic and uncivilized by taking laws into their hands.

While apologising to the people of the Ogbotobo community, the chairman further described the action of Letugbene youth as equally a proactive measure taking against land grabbers, a group of people who try to place something on nothing.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the chairman Ijaw National Congress(INC)IDUWINI clan through the legal adviser to the Congress, Amb (Barr) Jeremiah Charles Ikpaka in Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria on Saturday.

According to Chief Dodoru, “I want to firstly appreciate the resilient, dogged and fearless youth of Letugbene community for this signal, zeal born out of provocation ignited by Ogbotobo community who earlier instructed some of their tenants settling in Letugbene land to immediately vacate the land as result of an attempt by members of the Ogbotobo community who collude and aid SPDC/Renaissance Africa Energy Company limited to lay claim of five (5 ) oil wells belonging to Letugbene community in a bid to converting same to Ogbotobo community and it was on their refusal the youth exercise their right to protect their fathers land.

“On the hit of the objectionable act of Ogbotobo community members, several measures were put in place to avert any form of crisis and breakdown of law within the state, Nigeria and to maintain peaceful coexistence between the two communities. Remarkably, the Miracle Chairman Ekeremor LGA Bayelsa state swung into immediate action on 20th May 2025, inviting the two communities to settle the matter. Hon Chairman Ekeremor LGA instructed forthwith a cease fire on both sides as investigations will be carried out to ascertain the root cause. However, on the 4th day of June youths of the Letugbene community took the bull on the horn as they thought, the LGA Chairman had failed on his responsibility by destroying structures built on their land as further attempts to annex Letugbene land and oil wells were perceived.

In attempts to maintain peace, Chief DODORU pray Ogbotobo leadership to maintain calmness as crisis would birthed nothing but death, loss of properties and endless hatred.

Double Chief Dodoru in strong terms condemned the actions of the youth which was born out of provocation in the attempt of the Ogbotobo community laying claim on the 5 oil wells belonging to the Letugbene community.

“We need peace among us, we have Letugbene and Ogbotobo blood running in our DNA, we can’t fight ourselves for this, let peace reign, fighting ourselves will do us no good”, he added.

Chief Benson warned strictly that, this should sound a lesson to every neighboring communities/ land grabbers including Ogbotobo community to stay clear from Letugbene community’s land as Letugbene is not afraid of war neither, would never be afraid of war, and it had never lose any battle.

He also used the medium to call on the Ogbotobo community leadership to refrain from activities that would breach peaceful coexistence and warned their children from aiding SPDC in stray claiming under the disguise of farming.
“It is so shameful and laughable on the part of Shell claiming they came to the land to plant mangrove trees. Since when did Shell become gardeners”?

He further warned that SPDC/ RENAISSANCE AFRICA ENERGY COMPANY LIMITED should as a matter of urgency retrieve its illegal steps before same steps consume it, “Shell is one institution that have been causing crisis in Niger Delta but this time we will give them black and blue”.

“Peradventure SPDC fails or any further attempt to instigate crisis in our territory, Letugbene community shall have no reason but shutdown all its facilities within Nigeria. I want to beg that nobody should allow himself to use SPDC to incite a crisis whether in Ogbotobo or any community, Let peace reign”