•Accuse FG of owing Gbaramatun N99bn judgment debt
The Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs in the South West local Government Area of Delta State; has raised the alarm over alleged fresh siege in and around the community by the Nigerian military.
In a statement at the weekend by the Gbaramtu Traditional Council of Chiefs which was signed by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the Fiyewei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, the community alleged that residents are facing unprovoked harassment and intimidation from Nigerian military on water and in the air.
According to the statement, Gbaramatu Kingdom, which is situated along the Escravos River in Warri South West LGA of Delta State, received similar action from the Nigerian military from 2016 to 2018. An unfortunate incident, it said had even since put the people in perpetual fear of possible military invasion like the one of May 2009, when the military overrun a number of communities in the kingdom allegedly killing hundreds of people and destroying property worth billions of naira in the process.
“The kingdom sought redress in court and won the case against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The court awarded a fee of N99 billion in favour of the kingdom and the government is yet to pay the amount to Gbaramatu as a compensation of the barbaric act of the military.
“Our fear is that the military is trying to repeat same act to the peace loving people of Gbaramatu Kingdom if urgent steps are not taken by the Federal Government to call the military to order. The recent action of the military could be described as a mischievous one as the kingdom is very peaceful and do not expect such military actions,” the statement said.
It further said that the kingdom is today far safer than any part of the country, wondering “why this organised military siege, harassment and intimidation of the people?
“We do not deserve any military action as Gbaramatu Kingdom is yearning for human and infrastructural development as a part of the Nigerian state. More so, the kingdom contributes about 40 per cent of oil revenue to the country.
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