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| Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan |
The demolition of property worth millions of naira in an area predominantly occupied by Ijaws in Warri, Delta State, has heightened tension in the city. It is feared that unless immediate steps are taken by the authorities, an ethnic crisis may ensued.
The demolition, which was executed in a commando-style according to the residents, was carried out by armed-to-the-teeth soldiers of the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Effurun. They were accompanied by unidentified officials of the state government on Friday, last week to destroy structures in Lotiebiri quarters, an Ijaw area in Miller Waterside in Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South Local Government Area.
Already, ethnic embers are being fanned over the matter as the Ijaws are pointing accusing fingers on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, alleging that he was promoting an Itsekiri age-long agenda to take over all the lands in Warri metropolis.
Chairman of the community, Bossman Abodikede Azazi, told reporters yesterday that they couldn’t salvage any of their goods when the bulldozers came.
Decrying the insensitivity of the state government, he said: “from the grapevine, we learnt the state government has interest in our land but without notice they brought bulldozer to destroy our goods and property.”
He said that the state government ought to have notified the people, relocate and pay them compensation before moving the bulldozers in to destroy the property worth over N50million.
“Everything I have laboured for has gone, they restrained us from rescuing anything, they came with four trucks of soldiers and condoned off the whole place before they start pulling down the structures.”
When contacted, the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, said though he had not been briefed on the extent of their claims, he denied that a particular tribe was targeted, saying all demolitions were done in line with the government’s resolve to making life meaningful for the people.
From Leadership
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