Alleged Invasion Of Ijaw Communities: IYC Call On Military Authority To Call Soldiers To Order

Foremost Ijaw youth group, the Ijaw Youth Council, has called on the military authorities to caution their men and release innocent persons arrested in connection with the alleged killing of a soldier in a boundary community between Delta and Bayelsa state.

This came following the alleged invasion of Ijaw communities in Delta and Bayelsa states over the killing of a soldier at Ogbugbagbene community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State

The factional IYC President, Mr Eric Omare, in a statement on Sunday, lamented: “Since the unfortunate murder, communities along the Forcados river such as Bomadi, Tuomo, Tamigbe, Toru-Ndoro, Bulu-Ndoro, Ogbugbagbene, Ojobo, Torugbene, Letugbene and other communities have been under heavy military siege with movement highly restricted and economic activities paralysed.

“In Toru-Ndoro community of Bayelsa State, Mr. Suka Andy (community chairman), Yerekeme H. Afamukoro (vice chairman), and Ebikadumene Afesuku (youth president) were arrested by military officers yesterday (Saturday) evening. Similarly, in Bulu-Ndoro community of Delta State, the community chairman, Miebibo Agumu, was also arrested yesterday.

“As of the time of issuing this press statement, military officers have invaded Letugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and shooting sporadically. Miss UAC Mercy informed the IYC from Letugbene that the community had been deserted and residents now taking refuge in the bush.”

BigPen Online’s efforts to get the reaction of the spokesman of the Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Safe Delta, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, on the allegation were unsuccessful.