Ijaw protest military attacks, killings in villages

Worries by Thursday’s raid on Okosugbene and Gbekebor communities in Ogbolubiri Kingdom, Burutu Council of Delta State, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday protested the alleged killing of innocent Ijaw villagers in the communities, including the shooting of children at Desemor community in Warri South West Council by the military.

The IYC wondered how the Nigerian military would embark on aerial and land bombardment of innocent villagers at the small fishing camp of Okosugbene on very weak intelligent reports that militants were around the area.

The IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, said: “If the intention of the military is fish out militants, why the killing of old women and children?

“At the time of issuing this statement, Madam Atuku, an octogenarian, is in a state of coma in a private hospital in Warri as a result of the effect of the bombings, apart from several innocent people, especially children that were killed and injured.

The IYC condemned the alleged unprovoked attacks on Ijaw people and communities and urged all lovers of humanity to join in the condemnation, saying the Ijaw have not done anything to warrant such a treatment from the military under President Muhammadu Buhari.

“If the Nigerian government cannot protect Ijaw people and communities, then we may be forced to protect ourselves against such attacks in the future.

“We call on the international community, especially the United Nations Human Rights Commission to prevail on the Buhari administration to protect the rights of the Ijaw people to life. “These unprovoked and extra-judicial killings must stop,” they said.