Omadino Community denies attacking Akpata, accusing Gbaramatu militants of renewed assaults and land grabbing, citing a Supreme Court judgment on ownership and appealing for government intervention
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Omadino Community in Warri South Local Government Area has vehemently denied reports published by Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper, which claimed their youths attacked Akpata.
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Instead, Omadino community leaders assert that militants from Gbaramatu Kingdom launched a renewed assault on Akpata in the Aja-Jelebe area of Omadino Federated Community.
Chief Priest Roland Oti Yomere, speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, May 26, 2025, on behalf of the oil-rich Omadino Community, described the alleged attack by Gbaramatu militants as part of a “recurrent pattern of aggression” against his people.
“This is not the first time, but a recurrent attack,” Yomere stated, recalling a previous incident last year during the Warri crisis where lives were lost and properties destroyed, forcing his people to flee for safety.
According to Chief Priest Yomere, the Omadino people had attempted to return to their ancestral lands after more than a decade of displacement to resume traditional activities like fishing and farming in the creek area.
However, their return was reportedly met with hostility from forces Yomere identified as being sponsored by one “Sensor Oluba,” allegedly working under the direction of Tompolo through Tantita Security Services.
Yomere provided a detailed account of the recent attacks:
Previous Attack (2024): Houses were destroyed, and valuable properties including zinc sheets, foam mattresses, and foodstuffs were looted. Several community members were reportedly kidnapped and held hostage for hours before interventions by Yomere and other Omadino leaders secured their release.
Latest Attack (May 24, 2025): At approximately 3:00 AM, armed militants allegedly raided and burned down Omadino properties. The community attributes this to the same group responsible for the previous attacks.
This is not the first time, but a recurrent attack.
Yomere also addressed what he termed a “fake video trending online,” in which Ijaw people from Gbaramatu claimed that Itsekiri youths had attacked them and destroyed their property.
“Yesterday morning, we saw on TikTok the surveillance people, also known as Tantita people, claiming that they were building houses there and Omadino people attacked them, but that is not true.
They are trying to seek sympathy from the public, Federal and State governments,” he explained.
The Omadino community staunchly maintains its legitimate claim to the disputed territory. Chief Priest Yomere cited a Supreme Court judgment as evidence of their ownership of the entire area, including Esugbo, Eyobe, Egwatie, Egwakporo, Akpata, Lolomi, and Aja-Jelebe.
Yomere emphasized the economic significance of the area to his community, stating that Omadino people have historically been responsible for 90% of oil production activities in the region for major companies like Chevron, NNPCL, and Shell (now NPDC).
“If you go to the archives of Chevron, NNPCL, from Shell now NPDC, 90% of those [oil production] activities are done by Omadino. So is it a crime to be a minority?” he questioned.
The Omadino community has repeatedly appealed to both the Delta State and Federal governments for intervention, lamenting that previous appeals have gone unheeded.
“We called on the Delta State government and Federal Government to intervene as early as last year, but nothing was done,” Yomere said, adding that even Tantita had sent investigators, but no action was taken.
Chief Priest Yomere reported that tension remains high, with residents unable to sleep peacefully due to ongoing security concerns.
Despite the challenging situation, the Omadino community has vowed not to abandon their ancestral lands. “We will not run from our lands.
Until they kill all Itsekiris, all Omadino people, we will keep on going to the lands until the Federal Government sees reasons to keep peace and protect the lives and properties of the Itsekiri people,” Yomere declared.
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The community has specifically called on federal authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, urging that Sensor Oluba, the Pubaul family of Makaraba, and Gbaramatu leadership be “called to order.”
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
