UPU dedicates SAN to monitor trial of Yunusa, Ese’s abductor

• Six injured in Delta communities clash

Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has said it would send a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to represent the ethnic group at the trial of Yunusa Dahiru, the alleged abductor of Ese Oruru, an Urhobo girl.

President General of the union, Chief Joe Omene, disclosed this.

A delegation of the UPU just returned from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where they met with Ese’s family.

The union also said it would send its Secretary, Olorogun Albert Akpomudje, a SAN, to monitor the trial.

“We see this as a test case between the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Urhobo Progress Union because we learnt the ACF also has a lawyer monitoring Yunusa in the trial.”

Omene pleaded with the legal authorities handling the case to ensure that justice was done without fear or favour, saying the granting of bail to the accused and the report that three senior advocates of Nigeria had expressed readiness to defend Yinusa was a disappointing development in view of magnitude of the offence.

He said the UPU decided to visit Ese’s family in Yenagoa because they are of Urhobo ethnic nationality and that the union being the umbrella body of all Urhobo both within and outside the country is responsible for their welfare.

“Anything that affects the Urhobo man or woman, the UPU ensures that they are supported and Ese Oruru’s case is no exception,” he said.

Meanwhile, about six persons were fatally injured yesterday at Ogbe Ijoh and Aladja when Ijaw and Urhobo communities clashed.

The neighbouring communities are located in Warri-South West and Udu local councils and have been involved in land dispute for over three decades.

The Aladja community alleged that the rapidly expanding Ogbe-Ijoh community is encroaching on its land. The Guardian learnt that one person was allegedly killed over land dispute in May 2015.

Youths from Aladja yesterday blocked the only road through which Ogbe-Ijoh residents connect to other parts of the state. This action, it was learnt, annoyed their Ijaw neighbours who mobilised to open the blocked road so they could have exit access.

The spokesman of Udu Police Community Relations Committee, Mr. Ade Okeowo, said the police command had dispatched units to the area to ensure that the matter did not escalate to a serious crisis.

He disclosed that both communities had been embroiled in protracted land dispute and that last year the Police Area Commander held several meetings with both sides in order to resolve the matter.

The Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom, Couple Oromoni, declined comment when contacted on phone.