IRORO: Wanted Dead or Alive

The crisis in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, including Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States, is deepening by the day. There have been sporadic shootings, kidnappings and hostage-takings in parts of the oil-rich region by heavily armed militants, mostly youths in their teens and early 30s. They claimed to be fighting for a better standard of living as a result of the oil exploitation and exploration in the area by the Federal Government and major oil companies operating in the area. To these militants who see themselves as freedom fighters, violence and confrontation is the only means to correct these years of neglect of the Niger Delta region.             However, one man who believes that a better deal can even be achieved through dialogue was Chief Daniel Ewharekuko (JP). This, he canvassed through his-led group known as the Niger Delta Development Movement of the People (NDDMP).             As the President of NDDMP, Chief Ewharekuko did everything humanly possible within the ambit of the law to change the psyche of members of his community that violence was not the answer to solving the Niger Delta problem. He consistently preached the gospel of peace and dialogue with government and oil companies as the only way out of the quagmire in the area.             For this, some Niger Delta militants, who are used to hostage-takings for ransoms and violence, hated Ewharekuko, the man of peace. Thus, he was always at loggerheads with the militants. For his peaceful disposition, the government honoured him with a Justice of Peace (JP) award. However, the man of peace died in the struggle. He was buried amidst tears by all lovers of peace.              Ever since his death, the crime rate, threat to security of lives and property as well as the criminalization of the Niger Delta struggle has galloped. To fill the vacuum the late Chief Daniel Ewharekuko (JP) created in the fold of NDDMP, some of his children and other relations who believe in the aims and objectives of the group, stepped up their participation as members. His son, Mr. Iroro Ameh Ewharekuko, actually stepped into his late father's shoes as the new president of the NDDMP.             In no time, Mr. Iroro Ewharekuko became even more popular than his late father in terms of preaching peace and dialogue with government and oil companies as the easiest and result-oriented way of solving the Niger Delta problem.             Understandably, the militants drew a battle line with Iroro and his followers. Before long, one of his close relations and member of NDDMP was allegedly shot dead at close range by an unidentified youth suspected to be a militant.             Iroro, we gathered, took up the matter, and was indeed pressing for justice. This further angered the militants who outrightly declared him wanted, dead or alive.             This development forced Iroro and other key members of NDDMP into hiding for fear of being assassinated by unknown gunmen. As at today, nobody knows the whereabouts of Mr. Iroro. A call to some of his close family members by our reporter did not yield positive result as they all kept a sealed leap on his whereabouts.             When will peace return to the Niger Delta?