WARRI, Delta State – The Omadino Community in Warri South Local Government Area has vehemently denied reports published by Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper claiming their youths attacked Akpata. Instead, community leaders assert that militants from Gbaramatu Kingdom launched a renewed assault on Akpata in the Aja-Jelebe area of Omadino Federated Community.
Community Leaders Speak Out
Chief Priest Roland Oti Yomere, speaking on behalf of the oil-rich Omadino Community on Sunday, May 26, 2025, described the alleged attack by Gbaramatu militants as part of a recurring pattern of aggression against his people.
“This is not the first time, but a recurrent attack,” Yomere stated during a press briefing. “Sometime last year, after the Warri crisis, people were killed and properties destroyed. Our people left for the safety of their lives.”
Background of the Conflict
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, including fishing, farming, and other domestic pursuits in the creek area.
However, their return was met with hostility from what Yomere identified as forces sponsored by one “Sensor Oluba,” allegedly working under the direction of Tompolo through Tantita Security Services.
Details of Recent Attacks
The community leader provided a detailed account of the attacks:
Previous Attack (2024): Houses were destroyed, zinc sheets, foam mattresses, foodstuffs, and other properties were carted away. Several community members were kidnapped and held hostage for hours before intervention by Yomere and other Omadino leaders secured their release.
Latest Attack (May 24, 2025): At approximately 3:00 AM, armed militants raided Omadino properties and burned them down. The community alleges this was carried out by the same group that had previously attacked them.
Social Media Controversy
Yomere addressed what he termed “fake video trending online,” where 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.
Land Ownership Claims
The Omadino community maintains they have legitimate claim to the disputed territory, with Chief Priest Yomere citing a Supreme Court judgment supporting their ownership of the area.
“The land is for Omadino community. We have a Supreme Court judgment to that effect for the whole of that area,” he declared. The disputed areas include Esugbo, Eyobe, Egwatie, Egwakporo, Akpata, Lolomi, and Aja-Jelebe.
Economic Impact
Yomere highlighted the economic significance of the area to his community, noting that Omadino people have historically been responsible for 90% of oil production activities in the region for major companies including Chevron, NNPCL, 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.
Government Response Sought
The Omadino community has repeatedly called on both Delta State and Federal governments to intervene in the crisis, claiming their 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 lamented. “Even Tantita sent some persons through their office to investigate the matter, but till today nothing has been done.”
Current Security Situation
Chief Priest Yomere reported that tension remains high in the community, with residents unable to sleep peacefully in their homes due to security concerns.
“As of now, there is tension in the community. Even our people can no longer sleep there,” he said.
Community’s Resolve
Despite the ongoing attacks, 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.
Call for Investigation
The community has specifically called on federal authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, naming Sensor Oluba, the Pubaul family of Makaraba, and Gbaramatu leadership as parties that should be “called to order.”
The Omadino community’s allegations paint a picture of an ongoing territorial dispute with serious implications for peace and security in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, highlighting the complex ethnic and resource control issues that continue to plague the area.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
