BREAKING: TENSION MOUNTS AS IJAW WARLORDS VOWS TO RETALIATE ANY REPRISAL ATTACK ON IJAWS OVER 14 DAYS ULTIMATUM

• Hails Udu Youth Council for resolutions while maintaining that they are brothers

*Says we are not joking

PORTHARCOURT – Tension, as no fewer than 200 Ijaw ex militant leaders drawn across Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Ondo states have been reported to gather in Portharcourt, the capital of Rivers state yesterday as they vows to retaliate any reprisal attack on the Ijaws by the Urhobos in Udu over the 14 days ultimatum in Delta State.

This was made known to newsmen earlier this morning in a press statement singed by the militant generals, Gen.  Kemepade James, Delta; Gen. Famugben Weneboke, Bayelsa; Gen. Suru Opia, Edo; Gen. Kelly Owei, Rivers and Gen. Ebila Tinkoromo, Ondo state respectively.

The ex Ijaw warlords have also hailed the Udu Youth Council, UYC, an umbrella body covering all youths in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State for allegedly coming out with resolutions calling on Ijaws to remain calm.

Speaking further on the issue, the Ijaw group expressed total displeasure on the national leadership of Urhobo for what they described as alleged muteness over the 14 days ultimatum issued to the Ijaws living in Udu to vacate or face reprisal attack.

They particularly frowned at a statement credited to the president general of UPU, alleging that an attack on Aladja is an attack on Urhobos.

In a similar manner, the ex warlords have vowed that they will respond to any attack meted out on the Ijaws by their Urhobo counterparts in Udu should they carry out their threat on the ultimatum, stressing that they are not joking as only time shall unravel what they are capable of doing.

The ex militant leaders promised to mobilized themselves in order to fight for the Ijaws, emphasising that they will protect them even with the last drop of their blood.

The statement read in full:

“OUR POSITION ON THE 14 DAYS ULTIMATUM ISSUED TO THE IJAWS BY THE URHOBOS

“We ex militant leaders of the Ijaw extraction, numbering over 200 drawn across Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Ondo states regret to meet over such matter considering the fact that we are all brothers.

“A point must be made that it will not be two good for us as former warlords of the Niger Delta region to now begin to rally ourselves for such matter that can be amicably handled by the leadership of Urhobo.

“The muteness of Urhobo leadership on the ultimatum issued by Comr. Sunday Subi only mean that they are in support of it and with the subsequent pronouncement of Chief Joe Omene, the President general of Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU that an attack on Aladja is an attack on Urhobos.

“We have also come to the firm conclusion that an attack on one Ijaw Son or Daughter living in Urhobo land is an attack on Ijaws as we will make ourselves available to resist any attempt with the last drop of our blood by our Urhobo brothers.

“We also want to commend the leadership of Udu Youth Council, UYC for their resolutions yesterday calling for calmness among the Ijaws living in Udu while seeking to address some peculiar issues. We hail them for their giant stride.

“It is at the risk of repetition that we want to state our positions again in a more lucid term

“•We will not condone any attack on Ijaws as we will respond in equal manner

“Our actions will be highly felt if after the expiration of the ultimatum the Urhobos goes ahead with their threat.

“We acknowledge the fact that we are brothers.

“We will protect our people no matter what

“The Government should act fast in addressing the entire impasse or else they should not hold us responsible should anything happen

“Note: We are not joking, if you think we are joking so be it, only time shall unravel what we are capable of doing.” The ex militant leaders asserted.

Meanwhile Urhobo youths, Operating under the auspices of Udu Youth Council, UYC an umbrella body covering all youths in Udu, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have yesterday condemned calls for war with their alleged Ijaw brothers.

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