Angry Ijaw Youths Razed Down Akpata Camp; Not Omadino Youths- Omadino Chairman

The Chairman of Omadino Community, Tuoyo Mogbeyiteren, has refuted allegations of arson by Itsekiri youths of Omadino community on Ogheye -Akpata, a fishing camp belonging to Omadino, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

An online medium with leanings to the Ijaw ethnic nation in Warri South-West posted a video of the wreckage of the camp on social media. Another separate old video showing one of the raids of operatives of Tantita Security Services on the island was also shared.

The video footages have sparked concerns among netizens.

In response to these claims, Mogbeyiteren in an interview with Warri Sentinel on Sunday, May 25, dismissed the notion of internal sabotage, stating: “How can one Itsekiri community burn down another Itsekiri community?

“Ogheye-Akpata is a fishing camp belonging to Omadino. It was reported to me this morning that gunmen in the usual Tantita Security raid stormed the camp and ransacked it. We thought it was the usual Tantita raid but the place has Ijaws, Ilajes, some Itsekiris and other people who do fishing business there. It has also become a site for illegal bunkering activities lately.

He further explained that the location shown in the video is a fishing camp occupied by tenants from the Gbonwei lineage of the Ijaw ethnic group.

Mogbeyiteren confirmed that Tantita Security Services Limited had raided the camp for bunkering activities severally.

The community leader described the true incident that led to the completely burning down of the camp. He said, “Some Ijaws from Gbaramatu are unhappy that their people are paying rent to the Omadino community because of my visit to the camp two months ago where the Ijaws there clarified that they are not fighting against the Itsekiri people. So it is as a result of our visit and the people’s clarification and admission that the camp belong to Omadino community that led to the attack.

Although I can’t confirm to you that it was Tantita people that burnt it down but it wasn’t Omadino youths who did it,” he added.