Ogidigben: Three Injured, House Burnt As Ijaw, Itsekiri Youths Clash Over $16bn EPZ Project

BEVERLY HILLS, April 14, (THEWILL) – Fresh crisis has erupted in Ogidigben, Warri South West Local Government of Delta State as Ijaw and Itsekiri youths engaged themselves in gun battle over the controversial $16billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project.

Local sources told THEWILL that trouble started after an unprovoked attack by some Itsekiri youths on Ijaw youths working at the Deep Sea component of the multibillion naira project which was recently flagged- off by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Although details of the fracas were still sketchy when filing this report, sources said three persons from Ijaw community were injured in the crisis which started Monday night and lasted till Tuesday when some elders in the area waded into the matter.

According to the sources, youths from Madangho, an Itsekiri enclave, allegedly attacked some local security men who were working on the Deep Sea component of the EPZ project.

THEWILL gathered that youths from Gbaramatu, in a reprisal attack, had on Monday burnt two houses in Madangho, thus preparing the ground for the clash between the Ijaw and Itsekiris of Warri South West Council area.

However, another account disclosed that scores of persons suffered severe gunshot wounds and machete cuts in the fracas. “What sparked off the fighting was not immediately clear, but it was learnt that armed Ijaw youths burnt no fewer than three houses in Madangho in a reprisal attack of an earlier unprovoked attack by Itsekiri youths,” a local source said.

A community leader from Okpeleama, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Jackson Tortor, who confirmed the development, said it was sad that some persons were still fomenting trouble in the area despite the resolution of the crisis.

He alleged that Madangho youths attacked the youths who were working as security personnel at the Deep Sea Component of the project over reason yet to be fathomed.

Tortor called on the warring groups to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign so that the project wouldn't run into further crisis.