Foremost Ijaw youth organization, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide has raised an alarm over the “guerrilla warfare” going on in the Niger Delta, warning that the current crisis in the oil-rich region was sliding out of control.
The group lamented that the reported killing of soldiers and civilians as well as invasion of communities in the region at the wake of the offensive. It, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take personal and urgent responsibility to curtail the rising trend.
In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Eric Omare, IYC called on the Federal Government to immediately convey a bi-partisan stakeholders’ meeting to bring the fast deteriorating security situation under control.
It however condemned in strong teams the purported attacks and killing of soldiers and civilians working in house boats in Warri as well as Friday’s early morning attacks on oil facilities in Ogbeinbiri, Bayelsa State and Forcados export line, Delta State.
While reiterating its readiness and commitment to work with relevant stakeholders to return peace to the Niger Delta region, IYC, however, appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers to sheath their sword and give peace a chance while urging the federal government to use the opportunity to address issues affecting the region.
The statement reads, “the situation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is rapidly deteriorating and getting out of control. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), worldwide calls on President Mohammadu Buhari to urgently and personally take charge of the management of the process to return peace and normalcy to the region.
“In the last seventy two hours, there have been reported cases of attacks and killing of soldiers, civilians working in house boats and attacks on oil facilities in Ogbeinbiri, Bayelsa State and Forcados export line, Delta State.
“The civilians killed at the house boat were mainly Ijaw youths including Tombra David Iwoubebi and Anita Demedongha from Odimodi Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
“We in strong words condemn this senseless killing of soldiers and civilians that were working in the houseboat. This act of wickedness would only complicate an already delicate security situation.
The group maintained that the crisis requires the direct involvement of Buhari, noting that those mandated to handle the crisis had failed.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had at wake of the renewed hostilities convey a government/stakeholders’ meeting which included Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Minister for State Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwa, some leaders of the Niger-Delta region and the stakeholders in a view to stop the incessant attacks on oil and gas installations in the region.
But the resurgent militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, in one of its tweets, had described the reported stakeholders’ meeting as an “insult” to its cause and people of the region.
IYC said: “The situation requires the direct involvement of President Buhari. The events of the last few days have clearly shown that those mandated to lead the peace process have failed to produce the desired result.
“We also call on the Governors of the Niger Delta states to collaborate and galvanize stakeholders in the region to quickly start the process to return peace to the Niger Delta region.
“This is a call to save the Niger Delta region and Nigeria; hence political considerations must be set aside. The events that are happening in the region pose serious economic, environmental and security challenges to the entire nation.
“On the part of the IYC, we reiterate our readiness and commitment to work with relevant stakeholders to return peace to the Niger Delta region while at the same time addressing the issues affecting the region.
“The IYC also passionately call on the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups and individuals to give peace a chance. Violence has never solved problems anywhere in the world.
“The federal, state governments and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region should be given the opportunity to look at the issues at stake.
“We strongly feel that the continuous bombing of oil facilities and killings is not in the interest of the Niger Delta region and people. Aggrieved groups must give peace a chance.”
