The leadership of Ijaghala Community in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State has firmly denied allegations that an illegal detention facility exists in Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, describing claims that three youth leaders were abducted and imprisoned there as false, malicious and capable of igniting tension in the Niger Delta.
The community described the remark credited to an Itsekiri leader and movie producer, Mr. Alex Eyengho, that some Ijaghala community leaders were kidnapped and being kept in an illegal prison in Oporoza as false.
According to them, Eyengho does not represent Ijaghala community nor has the authority to issue statements on its behalf.
In a statement signed by Gabriel Ofeoritse Eyeaghanre, Oritsedumi Monday and Chief Samuel Eyengho, the community said reports alleging that the Chairman, General Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the Ijaghala branch of the Ugborodo Community National Youth body were kidnapped by armed men acting on the instructions of Gbaramatu-Ijaw leaders and taken to an “illegal prison” in Oporoza were entirely not true.
According to the community, no illegal prison exists in Gbaramatu, adding that the publication was a deliberate distortion of an internal youth leadership disagreement.
“The Community also categorically denies the claim that the three youth executives were taken to Oporoza and detained in an alleged ‘illegal prison’,” the statement said.
Ijaghala leaders explained that the issue revolves around a leadership dispute between two rival youth factions laying claim to the leadership of the community’s youth body and has nothing to do with Gbaramatu-Ijaw or its traditional leadership.
According to the statement, one faction is led by Alex Eyengho, while the other is associated with Besidone Eyengho, with Stanley Oluku serving as Chairman, Kenneth Ogugbemi as Secretary and Glory Macaully as Public Relations Officer.
The community maintained that the disagreement should not be twisted into allegations of kidnapping or claims that private detention facilities are being operated in Oporoza.
It added, “The leaders said the internal disagreement should not be misrepresented as a kidnapping incident involving Gbaramatu-Ijaw leaders or as evidence of the existence of alleged private or illegal prisons in Oporoza.”
“The Community further wishes to make it clear that Mr. Alex Eyengho does not represent Ijaghala Community and does not speak on behalf of the Community. His comments, allegations and conclusions should therefore not be regarded as the official position of Ijaghala Community or its recognised leadership”, they clarified.
The community accused Eyengho of attempting to create disaffection and sow distrust by linking Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ijaghala Community to allegations it described as unverified and inflammatory.
It warned that such claims, if left unchecked, could damage the long-standing peaceful relationship between neighbouring communities.
Ijaghala Community further faulted the publication of the allegations without verification from its recognised leadership, stressing that reports involving kidnapping and illegal detention are sensitive matters that require careful fact-checking.
While reaffirming its commitment to peace, dialogue and lawful dispute resolution, the community urged security agencies, the media and members of the public to disregard claims about an alleged illegal prison in Gbaramatu until credible evidence is produced.
The community added that it would continue to resist attempts by individuals to use its name to spread false narratives capable of creating division and instability in the Warri axis.
