The recent mayhem unleashed on some Itsekiri villages in Warri Local Government Area of Delta State by a group named Egbema Revolutionary Council has drawn the ire of members of the House of Representatives who called on the police to probe activities of the militant group.
12 persons were feared dead in the crisis.
Consequently, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs have been directed to send relief materials to the affected persons as well as collate figures of those who lost their houses with a view of providing short-term shelter measures before rebuilding the burnt houses.
The decision of the lawmakers followed a resolution of a motion sponsored by Daniel Reyeneju.
It resolved thus, mandating the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, committees and the National Emergency Agency, NEMA, to immediately take records of destruction and plan to give shelter to the victims by rebuilding their burnt houses.
Debating the general principles of the motion, Hon Daniel Reyenieju, PDP, who represents Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State, explained that “on July 2, 2013, several Itsekiri villages namely: Gbokoda Udo, Ajamita, Obagboro and Ayerode-zion on the Benin river axis, Warri north, were razed down. “
“These unprovoked attacks were carried out by criminal elements who called themselves the Egbema Revolutionary Council. “
He stressed further that”12 persons were feared killed and over twenty houses burnt down indiscriminately, thereby rendering the inhabitants’ homeless while others are still missing and unaccounted for. “
Reyeneju expressed concern that” the crisis needs a lasting solution to avoid any issue that will endanger the relative peace and co-existence in the Niger Delta region. “