Army Vs. IPOB: IYC Decry Violation Of Human Rights In Southeast, Says Dialogue Is The Answer

Eric Omare

Foremost Ijaw youth organization, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC worldwide has condemned the ongoing human rights violations in the name of operation “python dance 11” in the Southeast geopolitical zone of the country.

The group said that it would amount to self-deceit for the federal government to think that the demands of Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, which according to him are not in any way different from the demands of other groups and organizations in Nigeria, can be resolved through military might

IYC’s factional President, Eric Omare stated this on Thursday in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, Delta state.

According to him, the deployment of soldiers in the form of operation python dance would only succeed in escalating the already tense situation in the south eastern part of the country.

He said that federal government ought to learn from experience from other parts of the country where unnecessary military application has led to radicalization of youths and escalation of the conflicts as evidenced in the Niger Delta region.

Maintaining that IYC strongly believe that the demands of IPOB are not in any way different from the demands of other groups and organizations in Nigeria, he said what needs to be done is for government to start the process of constructive dialogue towards addressing the issues been raised by members of IPOB in the south east and other groups all over the country.

While reiterating the call for the military to be withdrawn from the streets of the south east, he averred that dialogue is the way out of the ongoing conflict between soldiers and members of IPOB, in Umuahia, Abia State and other parts of the south east.

“It would amount to self-deceit for the government to think that the issues can be resolved through military might.

“There is no amount of military application that would stop the ongoing agitations for the continuous existence of Nigeria to be renegotiated.

“The IYC also strongly condemn the ongoing human rights violations in the name of operation python dance 11. We reiterate our call for the military to be withdrawn from the streets of the south east and the violations of human rights must stop.

“The international community and human right community are called upon to prevail on President Buhari to bring to justice the soldiers who violated the rights of people in the name of operation python dance 11″, he added.

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