Iwere Peace Movement, a socio-cultural organization in the Niger Delta, has appealed to the Federal Government to stop the Joint Task Force (JTF) from the arrest and harassment of Ijaw youths in the Niger Delta, particularly in Warri, insisting that the action is creating tension in the region.
Also, the Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group faulted the allegation that a former ex-militant leader was behind the bombing of the oil pipelines and abduction of journalists in the creeks last year. The group claimed there was a calculated attempt by some PDP members who defected to APC in the area to destroy the Ijaws.
In a statement by Mr Merie Oritsejolomi and Johnbull Deghelli Omadeli, the Iwere Peace Movement charged security agents to go after those behind the destruction of the oil pipelines and not the innocent Ijaw youths they are arresting and humiliating everyday.
According to the statement, “We have observed with pains the arrest of several innocent Ijaw youths by security agencies since the destruction of some oil pipelines by unknown persons.
“Inasmuch as we support the efforts of the military in going after the perpetrators, we appeal strongly that this incessant arrest of Ijaw youths under the guise of searching for the perpetrators of the pipeline destruction must stop.
“We are all Nigerians and no Nigerian must be treated as an animal or a visitor in his own land. It is sad watching Ijaw youths being arrested on a daily basis leaving their families in pain because of issues they know nothing about.
“This is not the best way of resolving the current tension in the region. Rather, it may escalate it because when people feel betrayed by a nation that is supposed to protect them, they seek alternative means to survive.
“So we are strongly appealing to the Federal Government to apply diplomacy because when you intimidate people, nobody will want to help you in the investigation. Ijaw youths must not be seen as the problem of this nation. Those behind the destruction of the pipelines should be apprehended while innocent Ijaw youths in detention should be allowed to re-join their families so as to douse the tension in the region,” it stated.
The Iwere Peace Movement added: “With this allegation from the Itsekiri group, it is obvious that the Itsekiri former PDP member who defected to the APC and the Itsekiris of Ugborodo are the ones that carried out the bombing of the pipelines and accusing Tompolo just to divert attention. They tried woefully to exploit the recent issue between Tompolo and the EFCC to score cheap political point.”
-Vanguard