The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has condemned the killing of four soldiers and two drivers by gunmen in Abua-Odual Local Council of Rivers State.

The body also condemned the kidnapping of two South Korean expatriates during the attack and urged those behind the incident to urgently release the foreigners and desist from such act forthwith.

Recall that armed gunmen had last Tuesday ambushed a convoy of Daewoo workers along the Ahoada/Abua end of the East-West Road in Rivers State, killing four soldiers, two drivers and kidnapping two expatriates of the company.

A statement by IYC spokesman, Binebai Princewill, said kidnapping, attack and killing is not in line with the Ijaw and Niger Delta struggle for resource control and self-determination and has nothing to do with the struggle.

He added: “This is barbaric and highly unacceptable. It is a clear case of criminality and a setback to efforts towards the peace and stability of the region.  We therefore call on the relevant security agencies to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime to serve as a deterrent to others.

“However, we call on the military to display utmost professionalism in their quest to get the perpetrators of this crime to book.

“The innocent people of Abua-Odual Local Government Area and its neighbouring local governments in Rivers and Bayelsa must not be subjected to unnecessary pains in the attempt to get the criminals.”