Date Published: 05/18/09
PRESS RELEASE
Clarion call for cease of hostility on Ijaw communities by JTF.
The IYC has watched with disdain and chagrin the recent bombardment of Ijaw communities by members of the JTF of the federal republic of Nigeria in the pretence of cleansing our communities off militants.
As at the time this communiqué was been issued; the following communities namely; AZAMA, KUNUKUNUAMA, KURUTIE, OKERENKOKO, OPOROZA, BENIKURUKURU, OKOARANKO, KOKODIA-GBE, KOLOKUMA and the entire GBARAMATU communities has been sacked. This has led to an untold suffering by the inhabitants of the aforementioned towns and villages. A case of double jeopardy, with the blatant slaying of over a 50,000 law abiding citizens mostly women and children, and over 200,000 people rendered homeless without food or water.
To buttress the insincerity of the Federal Government and the calculated genocide by the Yar’adua administration. There has been heavy military presence in the following major Ijaw towns, namely KAIAMA, ODI, OPOKUMA,YENAGOA,BOMADI,PATANI, OKRIKA, DEGEMA, BONNY, BUGUMA, BELE to mention but a few.
It should be restated here that IYC under my leadership believes in dialogue as a means of peaceful mediation in conflict resolution and vehemently opposes the use of force in achieving peace. This genocide by the Yar’adua administration can only escalate the fragile peace been enjoyed in the region and thus, should be stopped.
I am also using this as a means to call on the international communities, well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the federal government to stop this genocide, conduct a thorough investigation on those responsible for the show down and bring them to justice, not minding whose horse is gored.
The recent onslaught has brought to bear the insincerity of President Yar’adua’s administration on the question of amnesty.
Is it not a national shame that President Yar’adua has refused to meet with Vice- President Goodluck Jonathan on this or any other issue in the past 72 hours?
Similarly, the IYC calls for total restrain from both side of the conflicts. We have already appealed to our kith and kin in Ijaw communities to remain calm and law abiding while we find a peaceful resolution to this avoidable aggression on our communities.
WE still will maintain our position on Nonviolence direction action as a mean to resolving the crisis.
Dr. Chris Ekiyor
President, Ijaw Youth Council
