Concerned Ijaws of Siluko Ward condemn attack on Okomu oil palm company in Edo

•Appeal with the military not to invade innocent communities

By Timi Black
Chief Correspondent

Concerned Ijaws of Siluko Ward (CISW) in Edo State have condemned outrightly the dastardly attack on Edo oil palm company in the penultimate week, leading to the death of one staff.

The statement was contained in a press statement signed by its president Comrade Tulu Richard on Tuesday.

The group while condemning the attack in totality, urged security officers to leave no stone unturned in bringing to book the perpetrators of the dastardly act, noting that the attack is creating tension in the area.

The group charged the neighbouring communities and the general public to corporate with the security operatives with useful information which may lead to the arrest of those behind the attack.

The Ijaw advocates cautioned the Nigerian Army and the Police in particular to work on verified information only and not bias claims that may lead to the harassments of innocent citizens, adding that several Ijaw communities had been burnt down in the past for things they know nothing about.

According to the group: “we make bold to say such unprofessional conducts will no longer be tolerated.”

The statement read: “It has been brought to our notice that On the 1st of February 2022 the Okomu Palm Oil Company came under an attack by some yet to be identified gunmen leading to the death of one of the company’s staff, setting ablaze of two Excavators and burning down of a section of the company’s rubber plantation.”

The statement continued:”C.I.S.W being a youth body advocating for good governance for all the Ijaws in Siluko ward wishes to send our heartfelt condolences to the company and the family of the deceased staff. We condemn this attack in totality and encourage the security officers to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of this barbaric act to book as the attack has been creating panic for the well meaning indigenes of the area.

“The security of lives and properties is the business of everybody, hence C.I.S.W charges all the neighbouring communities and general public to corporate with the security operatives should they have any vital information that may lead to the arrest of those behind the attack.

“Finally, we wish to advise the Nigerian Army and the Police in particular to work on meaningful information only and not some bias claims that may only lead to the harassments of innocent citizens. we have had our communities burnt down in the past for things they know nothing about, we make bold to say such unprofessional conducts will no longer be tolerated.”