By Suoyo EkuboÂ
Residents of the ancient Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have continued to mark their ordeal after 15 years of deadly military aerial bombings of communities in the kingdom.
The people, after the horrible military attack, had chosen May 15 of every year to celebrate and mark freedom day to reunite themselves in the kingdom.
It would be recalled that on 15th May 2009, the Gbaramatu kingdom came under a severe military attack where over 40 communities were bombed to rubble, leading to the killing of dozens of residents, including children, women, youths, and aged people.
The bombardment continued for over a week as survivors were trapped in the mangrove forest without food, water and shelter. Many lost loved ones, children, husbands, wives and total life savings. That was a time when the Nigerian military declared total war against the Ijaw people in Niger Delta. No male youth was spared. The Nigerian military branded every young Ijaw youth militant and many innocent youths lost their lives without knowing what was happening.
