On Thursday, 8 January, 2004, at about 3 pm, two outboard engine boats conveying over thirty Itsekiris from Abe-Ugborodo in Warri North Local Government Area to Sapele ( all in Delta State)were attacked by militias of the Ijaw National Congress and the Ijaw Youth Council.

The occupants of the boats who were mostly traders and those returning back from Abeugorodo after the Xmas and New Year festivity were accosted by a speed boat conveying the militias who were in army and naval uniforms. The unsuspecting Itsekiris thought that they were men of the Operation Restore Hope and consequently did not suspect any danger to the extent of waving at them, with some using their head gear and hats.

The militias which numbered about seven and armed with automatic riffles sprayed the two boats with bullets. Many of the occupants died in the boats while a few swarm to the mangrove shore which was quite near. The militias wasted no time in towing the boats with the corpses away. So far 18 of the passengers have been dead while a few are still missing.

We here recall that in last December, the Ijaw militias attacked Koko, Ode-Itsekiri and Orugbo killing umpteen numbers of persons. In all these genocidal and ethnic cleansing actions of the Ijaws against the Itsekiris, the Delta State and Federal governments have refused to take any concrete actions to stop the Ijaws.

This is not surprising. Recently, the Ijaw militias kidnapped oil workers (including foreigners), men of the Nigerian military among others. In all these atrocities, the Delta state government and ChevronTexaco Nigeria Ltd. have always paid ransom to to the Ijaw militias to secure the release of the captives. With such cash flow, the Ijaws have been able to sustain their war of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Itsekiris. We hold Governor Ibori of Delta State partly responsible for our present tragedy and unending violence

It is sad the Nigerian Nation State has allowed itself to be intimated by the Ijaws in a manner that the militias of the Ijaw National Congress and the Ijaw Youth Council are now above Nigerian laws. Those that are arrested are easily released, even when caught in acts of terrorism and abduction. Ijaws must know that they do not have a sole monopoly of violence.

We here call on the International Community, and people of conscience and goodwill the world over, to come to the rescue of the Itsekiris; else we will be extinct.

Matthew Itsekure (Mr.)

Chairman, Publicity Sub Committee

Jan 2004