Delta State’s most wanted criminal suspect came out of hiding
yesterday to issue the government a 60-day ultimatum on infrastructure
in his community.
Kelvin Ibruvwe, a suspected kidnap kingpin, led a group of masked
boys who wore military camouflage and carried assault rifles. They
addressed residents of Kokori in Ethiope East Local Government.
The leader of the Liberation Movement for the Urhobo People (LIMUP)
said they would shut down all oil wells in Urhobo communities if at the
end of the 60 days the federal government does not grant their request.
Ibruvwe, who confirmed that he has since been declared wanted by
security agents for allegedly masterminding high profile kidnappings in
Delta State, said his actions were to draw the government’s attention to
the poverty level and neglect of the Kokori community, which according
to him produces the best oil in the country.
He said: “We are giving this ultimatum because the cheating is too
much, the federal and state governments had neglect us for so long and
now we want them to hear us because for over 50 years now, they have
been drilling oil from our community which is the second best oil in
this country, yet we have nothing to show for it.
“There is hunger everywhere; graduates have no jobs. So we want the
government to listen to us and that is why we are giving them 60 days
ultimatum to listen to us or else we will shut down all the well heads
in the area. If they like, they should bring soldiers. When we want to
strike, no amount of security can stop us because we are not alone, and
there are top people in this country and in foreign land backing us.
“The reason why they have been hearing of the name Kelvin is because
of what I just told you now. The government must listen to us. Boko
Haram will be destroying the Northern part of the country while we will
be destroying the Southsouth. We will destroy all the well heads in
Urhobo kingdom.
“After the expiration of the 60 days ultimatum, the federal
government will know that we don’t make empty threats, but that we are
capable of doing something but we are guaranteeing them that within the
next 60 days there will be peace, but if they think we cannot do
anything, then they will hear from us after the expiration of the 60
days ultimatum.”
The group was surrounded by women and children – in a village square setting.
Ibruvwe went on: “As you can see our mothers, sister and brothers, we
are all suffering in this community. For a very long time now, they
have been looking for Kelvin, that he is a kidnapper. I am the Kelvin, I
am like two million Kelvins. I am not a kidnapper.
“We are drawing the attention of the federal and state governments
and we believe now that we have drawn the attention of the federal and
state governments, but if the government thinks that the existing peace
in the state is because of the security, we will let them know we are
relaxing for a while to see what they can do.”
“When the Ijaws and Itsekiris where agitating with arms, we the
Urhobo youths chose to be peaceful, but what did we get? We are rather
left out completely in the amnesty programme. Is it not the same oil
that the Ijaws and Itsekiris produce that is also produced in Kokori,
which has the second best oil in Nigeria? So what is our crime?”
A resident of the community who spoke on behalf of the youths, Ms.
Favour Sokodi, said: “We are here today because Kokori is suffering.
There are no jobs for the youths, graduates whom their parents borrowed
money to see through their tertiary education roam the streets with
nothing to do and businesses have been very slow for our market women
because there is no flow of income.
“What we want the government to do is to build schools, hospitals,
banks and cottage industries that can employ the men and teeming youths
of the community.”
An indigene of the community, Chief Saroke Edah who spoke on behalf
of women, said: “We thank God for using our son, Kelvin, to fight for
our course. He is not a criminal, as the government of Delta State wants
the world to believe. He and his group are fighting for what is just,
equitable and legitimate. Therefore, he should not be given a bad name.
“If the government had provided jobs for these youths and our
husbands, would they take up arms to ask for what rightly belongs to
them? Where the oil is found in Kokori, the land belongs to Kelvin’s
grandfather and yet the family has nothing to show for over 50 years of
oil exploration. Is this not injustice?”
But Delta Police spokesman Lucky Uyabeme said: “To believe such a
thing is difficult that a man declared wanted is in the community. I
cannot make any comments on that until it is confirmed. I am trying to
get in touch with the DPO of the area, I cannot make any statement until
I confirm from my men on ground.
