– Urges Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh youths to embrace Peace
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has condemned the invasion of Ajakurama Community of Egbema Kingdom in Edo State leading to the burning down of 15 homes.
The National Spokesman of the IYC Daniel Dasimaka expressed the disappointment of the IYC over what he describes as a systematic assault on Ijaw people in recent times. “For the avoidance of doubt we want the world to know that the IYC is totally against the current wave of unwarranted systematic assault on Ijaw people of recent. Just this year alone not less than five Ijaw communities have been invaded by the military. Not long ago Soldiers invaded and burnt down Ajakpa community, an Ijaw community in Arogbo clan in Ese-Odo local government area of Ondo state. Now it is the turn of Ajakurama, another Ijaw Community in Edo state. Where is next?”
The IYC image-maker condemned the attack and burning of 15 homes in Ajakurama which according to him is a” vicious, cruel and savage act” that has rendered many innocent inhabitants of the community homeless without food, water and basic things of life.
“If the military has evidence of criminality in any town, be it, illegal refining, Bunkering, or what have you, there are more civilized rules of engagement in tackling such rather than burning down buildings and in the process further destroying our already degraded environment. What happened to seizing homes and forfeitures that applies everywhere also? Why should peaceful Ijaw communities continue to suffer military invasion even under this supposedly democratic dispensation? We are therefore calling on the military authorities and indeed the President Buhari Led Federal Government as well as the National Assembly to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the invasion of Ajakurama.
We are also once more urging the military to carry out its operations within Ijaw territories with utmost professionalism in order not to incur needless damage in the form of the molestation, harassment and attacks of innocent law abiding citizens of the community and area.” The statement reads.
The Oweilaemi Pereotubo led IYC also called on the youths of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities of Udu and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State to give peace a chance while the appropriate authorities device peaceful resolution of their differences.
You would recalled that there were reports of serious tension in Delta State earlier this week as armed Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh youths engaged themselves in a gun battle
at about 7am on Monday October 16, 2017.
Daniel Dasimaka
Spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC Worldwide)