Yenagoa – The Ijaw nation has lost one of its most vocal and fearless advocates for justice and equity, as renowned activist and rights crusader, Comrade Ebiserikumo Gbassa, popularly known as “The Great Messenger,” has passed away.
Gbassa reportedly died in the early hours of Friday, according to a close family source who confirmed the sad development but preferred not to be named. While the cause of death remains undisclosed, sources say the family is making necessary arrangements for his burial.
A firebrand activist known across the Niger Delta and beyond, Gbassa was a persistent critic of successive governments in Bayelsa State and a staunch advocate for good governance, human rights, and justice for the oppressed. He founded the Zuonaki Human Rights Platform, a formidable advocacy group through which he championed the rights of marginalized communities, especially within oil-producing regions.
Beyond his local activism, Gbassa played a critical role in several historic struggles. Notably, he was one of the Ijaw youths who confronted and resisted the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) during the violent ethnic clashes in Ajegunle, Lagos, in the early 2000s. His involvement in that resistance marked him as a bold defender of Ijaw identity and pride, earning him the enduring nickname, “The Great Messenger.”
Gbassa was also a founding member of two of the most influential Ijaw organizations — the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and the Movement for the Survival of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND). These platforms have been instrumental in shaping the Ijaw struggle for self-determination, environmental justice, and inclusion in Nigeria’s federal structure.
Tributes have begun pouring in from Ijaw leaders, human rights groups, civil society organizations, and political figures across the country. Many described Gbassa as a fearless and selfless leader who never compromised his principles.
“Comrade Gbassa was not just an activist; he was a living conscience of the Ijaw struggle. From the streets of Lagos to the creeks of the Niger Delta, he stood tall for justice. His courage during the OPC-Ijaw crisis in Ajegunle will forever be remembered,” a former IYC leader noted.
As the Ijaw nation mourns, there are growing calls for Gbassa’s legacy to be immortalized, with suggestions for public lectures, memorials, and youth empowerment programs in his name.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in the coming days.
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