On Friday, May 15th in the year 2009, a tragic incident was added to the annals of history in southern Nigeria, precisely Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, when the Nigerian Armed Forces bombarded the popular ancient Ijaw kingdom with claims of waging war against armed agitators.

The gory incident, which has since then become a day of remembrance and has been tagged by the Gbaramatu people as 'Gbaramatu Annual Survival Day' or 'Gbaramatu Strafe Day', was recently marked at the Oporoza playground on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, with masquerade performance and traditional dance.

The 2024 edition makes it exactly 15 years since the tragic episode of the incident took place. But despite a decade and a half, it still seems like yesterday the incident occurred. Indeed, it was one day that would forever be remembered by those who witnessed the gory incident, and they too would, through word of mouth, keep the memory alive in their children and the generations yet unborn.

Hosted by the chairman of Oporoza community, Hon. Godwin Febaide, and assisted by the planning committee chairman, Chief Johnbull Demebi, the colourful entertainment activities at the 2024 edition was attended by notable guests top among whom are the wife of His Royal Majesty, Queen Kathy Ogoba; some members of the Traditional Council of Chiefs among whom are Chief Amb. Dr. Nelson Ogelegbanwei JP, Chief Miebi Aske, Chief Julius Tonfawei, Chief Mrs. Ghana Pondi.

Also in attendance is a former chairman of Oporoza community, Amb. Labort Tonfawei; the President of the Gbaramatu Youth Council (GYC), Mr. Egbejule Kingsley with members of his exco, and other youth leaders.

Speaking on the celebration, the host, Hon. Febaide thanked God for not allowing the enemies of Gbaramatu Kingdom in their plot to annihilate the kingdom, hence the people has been celebrating their survival from the sad incident.

Hon. Febaide also renewed calls on the federal government to do the needful in the areas of addressing infrastructural poverty such as housing, bridges, health, education and communication in the area coupled with job creation as well as empowerment initiatives to help cushion the effects of hardship, moreso when rising cost of transportation is making life difficult for riverine dwellers.

It would be recalled that the incident resulted into a judgement debt of N99.9 billion awarded by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Asaba, against the then Joint Task Force coordinated by Sarkin Yakin Bello in a suit the kingdom had filed on June 22, 2009.

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