No plan to attack military, oil facilities in N’delta -IPF tells Tinubu, military

IJAW PUBLISHERS’ FORUM, (IPF)

Press statement
25th March, 2024

SECURITY REPORT INSINUATING IJAW YOUTH PLAN TO ATTACK MILITARY AND OIL FACILITIES IN NIGER DELTA IS FAKE AND MISCHIEVOUS.

Our attention has been drawn to a threat to militarise Niger Delta again, particularly Ijaw communities by the federal government of Nigeria following a mischievous and unverified security report alleging that Ijaw youth are planning to attack military installations and oil facilities in Niger Delta.

As Pan- Ijaw News Agency, we wish to state unequivocally that there is no such plan to cause fresh hostility in Niger Delta region by Niger Delta or Ijaw youth as alleged by adversaries of the region.

Being highly disturbed by the fake intelligence report, we wish to reiterate that Nigeria security apparatus should not be biased with its security or intelligence reports to victimise and intimidate innocent residents in the region, inspite of the recent communal dispute which led to the gruesome killing of gallant soldiers by some irate Urhobo youths in Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State.

Meanwhile, the IPF is among other numerous stakeholders and leaders of the region in condemning the dastardly act, and this incident does not in any manner suggests any fresh hostility in Niger Delta as it was a complete criminal act arising from a mere land dispute.

Again, Ijaw Nation is bleeding following the genocidal massive killing of the innocent residents of Igbomotoru community by the Nigerian military in reprisal attack in the search for culprits of the dastardly killing of soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State.

It is succinct to state that the military massive killing and burning of houses in Bayelsa were hasty and amounts to great injustice and complete abuse of the fundamental human rights of the riverine dwellers of Igbomotoru community as the military is yet to establish any fact of organise crime between Okuama community in Delta State and that of the Igbomotoru community in Bayelsa State. We expect Nigerian military to deal with masterminds observing the rules of engagement to avoid victimising innocent residents in such communities.

However, we were taken aback of the prevailing false intelligence report, while we mourn the death of our kinsmen in Bayelsa State and the military officers killed in Delta State. This unverified security report was received with a rude shock because it is not only sending bad signals in a time stakeholders in the region are working round the clock to collaborate with the security agents to fish out the perpetrators or masterminds of the death soldiers in Okuama community.

Consequently, Niger Delta youth and stakeholders are very committed to sustaining the existing peace in the region following the sustained Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, and it was wrong for crises merchants to think of building bad blood among Nigerian military and Niger Delta region.

Following past experiences in the country, we urged Nigeria government and its military to be committed to building of a lasting peace in the Niger Delta to attract more investors across the globe to the region.

On this backdrop, we appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the Nigerian military to exercise refrain and not to plunge the country into avoidable tension and panic as we continue to collaborate with the federal government to find a lasting solution to the numerous challenges bedevilling the country in the recent times.

Signed

Comrade Ozobo Austin
President.