HRM Dr. Morris Ogheneochuko Eyekpimi-Egboboyen, the Orosuen (traditional ruler) of Okere Urhobo Kingdom in Warri South Local Government Area, has declared that the killer of one of his people, Jerry Aduara, must not be allowed to go unpunished.
The traditional ruler emphasized that the Okere Urhobo community, along with the wider Warri Urhobo people, will persistently seek justice for the deliberate killing of Jerry Aduara, a member of the Warri South Local Government Council Peace Committee, who was reportedly shot and killed by Itsekiri militants.
The Okere Urhobo monarch made these remarks in his keynote address during a condolence visit by executives of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide on Monday.
Owhotemu 11 recalled that the late Jerry Aduara was on a peace mission when he was allegedly harassed by Itsekiri militants, who targeted the Odion Urhobo people as they performed rituals for their ancestors and deities.
He explained that several other members of the indigenous Urhobo community in Odion were also injured during these unprovoked attacks, which reportedly occurred even with security agents present.
The Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom emphasized that the people of Odion Urhobo Community, his ancestral home, had obtained permission from both security forces and the Warri South Local Government Peace Committee. They were assured of safety and security during and after their ceremonies honoring their ancestors and deities.
The distressed traditional ruler added that the situation could have escalated further if not for his intervention, which prevented his people from retaliating, as they heeded his call for calm.
The Okere Urhobo monarch also highlighted that this wasn’t the first time the Okere Urhobo Kingdom had been attacked by Itsekiri militants, and expressed frustration that no action had been taken against the militants for previous assaults.
He therefore appealed to Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori and the Inspector General of Police to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the unprovoked attacks on the Odion Urhobo Community.
Earlier, Owhotemu 11 thanked the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) for their visit, noting that it demonstrated genuine concern for the Okere Urhobo Kingdom and the wider Warri Urhobo community.
The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide, led by its 2nd Deputy Vice President General, Chief Abel Opuidi, explained in his address that their visit was to express condolences to the Okere Urhobo people over the killing of Jerry Aduara by Itsekiri militants.
He described the late Jerry Aduara as a devoted son of Okere Urhobo Kingdom who wholeheartedly served both the kingdom and the wider Warri Urhobo community. Aduara was reportedly killed while carrying out his duties as a member of the Warri South Local Government Council Peace Committee.
On behalf of UPU Worldwide, Chief Opuidi joined the call for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for Aduara’s death, as well as other Itsekiri militants involved in the unprovoked attacks on the Odion Urhobo Community.
He prayed that God would grant the Okere Urhobo Kingdom and the entire Warri Urhobo people the strength to endure this great loss.
He also urged the Itsekiri people to embrace peace in Warri, expressing deep concern that the earlier notorious Warri ethnic crisis has continued to negatively impact the area’s social and economic life to this day.
The late Jerry Aduara, who was tragically killed, had served as the youth chairman of Odion Urhobo Community twice and lived in Otovwodo (Agbassa) within Warri South Local Government Area.
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