Lawyer Alleges Ex-militants Plan To Attack Community

Kolombo , an Ijaw speaking community in Edo State, is allegedly  been threatened  by two former militant  leaders  in the area ,Bibopri Ajube and Omo Tonwerigha, according to a petition raised on their behalf by a Yenagoa-based legal practitioner, Olu Ojujoh, at the weekend.

The legal practitioner is therefore, urging  the  federal government to revisit the disarmament programme in the Niger Delta, occasioned by the invasion  of some  Ijaw communities by  ex-militants using sophisticated weapons. Ojujoh ,who spoke with journalists in Yenago, a alleged  that the ex-militants and their armed followers  conveyed in  seven speedboats  had invaded  Kolombo last Thursday, razed down several houses, shot, injured  four persons and abducted four  persons,  including a woman.

According to the lawyer, identities of those injured in the invasion included Chairman Ajuwa and Duimini Ajuwa , who  are currently  receiving medical  treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Ojujoh  further said  Queen Solubo , Abe James and two others were  being held hostage  and  tortured at Safarogbo community.

The legal practitioner observed that the ugly situation was a proof that   former militant leaders in the Niger Delta did not actually  submit  all their arms during the disarmament programme ,which  followed the federal government’s declaration of amnesty for reformed militants  in 2009.  “Unless the federal government and other authorities concerned really take urgent steps the  Ijaw communities in Ese-Odo local government area of Ondo State and Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State will not know peace,” he explained.

Meanwhile, in  a  Save Our Souls (SOS) message to the Inspector-General of Police, on behalf of himself and Kolombo community ,Ondo State, Olu Ojujoh, appealed that persons who kill and maim at will in Arogbo-Ijaw Ibe Kingdoms should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Ojujoh urged the Police boss  to ensure  the release of the persons  still being held hostage and also engage the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters ,Kingsley Kuku,  on proper disarming of the ex-militants.

The lawyer recalled that Ajube and Tomwerigha  had in September last year  shot and killed a youth  at Akpata  and Tunyan  in which one  Kenneth Sobijo and himself  were invited to resolve the matter.

He said: “If due attention is not given to the plight of the people of Kolombo Village, the people shall resist any further moves by these miscreants to intimidate the whole village for no just cause with their last drop of blood.”